MATERIAL and METHODS: 79 patients were clinically and radiologically examined for adjacent segment degeneration (ASD). The results were compared to evaluate which approach was predominant for adjacent segment disc degeneration.

RESULTS: ASD was found in 57 of a total of 79 patients. 24% of the patients demonstrated clinical and radiographic evidence and 48% of the patients demonstrated only radiographic evidence of ASD. Both anterior and posterior single level simple discectomy had similar rates for adjacent segment disease (p>0,05) . ASD was found to appear earlier in patients who had anterior cervical discectomy (4.78 vs 9.85 years, p :0,005). Symptomatic evidence of ASD was found to start earlier than radiological evidence of ASD (4.67 vs 7.63 years p:0,003). Radiographic evidence of adjacent segment degeneration was observed more commonly compared to symptomatic evidence of ASD (38 vs 19 patients p:0.002).

CONCLUSION: Although, radiographic and clinical evidence of ASD is inevitable for both simple cervical discectomy procedures, neither anterior nor posterior simple cervical discectomy is the predominant approach for causing ASD. Keywords : Cervical spine, Cervical discectomy, Adjacent segment degeneration, Cervical disc degeneration