Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without anchoring: a multicenter comparison of stand-alone porous…

Cohort studyEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society· Jul 2026

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without anchoring: a multicenter comparison of stand-alone porous titanium versus anchored PEEK interbody cages.

Stefano Colonna, Flavio Panico, Andrea Gatto … Fabio Cofano

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SpineCohort studyTreatmentQ1IF 3.2

Stand-alone titanium cages cut ACDF operative time versus anchored polyetheretherketone cages

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without anchoring: a multicenter comparison of stand-alone porous titanium versus anchored PEEK interbody cages.

Stefano Colonna … Fabio Cofano

European spine journal · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Surgery

Purpose

To compare clinical and radiological outcomes of ACDF performed using stand-alone 3D-printed porous titanium cages versus anchored polyetheretherketone (polyetheretherketone) interbody cages in patients with degenerative cervical spine disease.

Methods

Were treated with either stand-alone porous titanium cages or anchored zero-profile polyetheretherketone cages.

n = 265 patients

85

Results

85

vs. 112 min

stand-alone cages cut surgery time by nearly half an hour

n = 265 patients

More results

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between groups.

Both groups showed significant postoperative improvement in pain and functional scores.

The magnitude of pain reduction was greater in the stand-alone cohort, while SF-12 improvement was comparable.

More results

Osteoporosis was the only factor associated with an increased risk of cage subsidence.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

In this multicenter study, stand-alone 3D-printed porous titanium cages achieved clinical and radiological outcomes comparable to anchored polyetheretherketone cages in ACDF, with shorter operative times, preserved sagittal alignment, and similar complication, fusion, and subsidence rates.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings support their use as a safe and efficient alternative in appropriately selected patients.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without anchoring: a multicenter comparison of stand-alone porous titanium versus anchored PEEK interbody cages.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without anchoring: a multicenter comparison of stand-alone porous titanium versus anchored PEEK interbody cages.

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