Post-operative Outcomes of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Surgery With and Without Drain Placement

NCT ID: NCT06938607

Last Updated: 2025-12-18

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 360 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-02-28
• Study Completion Date: 2029-04-30

Brief Summary

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is a widely performed surgical procedure used to treat cervical spondylosis and cervical disc herniations with cervical nerve root compression and or cervical spinal cord compression when conservative treatment options have been exhausted. The primary aim of ACDF is to alleviate neck, shoulder, and upper extremity pain associated with degenerative cervical disc disease by removing one or more affected discs, decompressing the nerves, and restoring cervical spine anatomy through the implantation of structural allograft/autograft bone or artificial spacers, plates, and screws. Historically, ACDF has demonstrated substantial long-term benefits in pain relief and quality of life improvements for patients. In the United States alone, the annual number of ACDF procedures exceeds 150,000 and is projected to rise significantly over the next four decades. Despite its technical complexity, ACDF is considered a relatively safe procedure. Common postoperative complications include dysphagia (1.7-9.5%), hematoma (0.4-5.6%), worsening myelopathy (0.2-3.3%), recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (0.9-3.1%), cerebrospinal fluid leakage (0.5-1.7%), and surgical site infections (0.9-1.6%). One strategy employed to mitigate postoperative complications such as hematoma, surgical site infection, and the need for reoperation is the placement of an indwelling subfascial drain within the surgical site. These drains facilitate the removal of accumulated blood or serous fluid, thereby reducing localized pressure and potentially preventing adverse outcomes. Despite its theoretical benefits, the utility of subfascial drains remains a topic of debate among surgeons. Given the limited evidence on the efficacy of subfascial drain placement following ACDF, this study proposes a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the necessity and impact of subfascial drain placement on postoperative outcomes.

This study will determine whether subfascial drain placement reduces the incidence of postoperative complications, including hematoma, infection, airway compromise and secondary surgeries, compared to no drain placement following ACDF surgery; assess the impact of subfascial drain placement on the severity and duration of postoperative dysphagia compared to no drain placement; and evaluate participant-reported outcomes and satisfaction, including postoperative pain and recovery experience, between the drain and no-drain groups.

Detailed Description

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is a widely performed surgical procedure used to treat cervical spondylosis and cervical disc herniations with cervical nerve root compression and or cervical spinal cord compression when conservative treatment options have been exhausted. The primary aim of ACDF is to alleviate neck, shoulder, and upper extremity pain associated with degenerative cervical disc disease by removing one or more affected discs, decompressing the nerves, and restoring cervical spine anatomy through the implantation of structural allograft/autograft bone or artificial spacers, plates, and screws. Historically, ACDF has demonstrated substantial long-term benefits in pain relief and quality of life improvements for patients. In the United States alone, the annual number of ACDF procedures exceeds 150,000 and is projected to rise significantly over the next four decades. Despite its technical complexity, ACDF is considered a relatively safe procedure. Common postoperative complications include dysphagia (1.7-9.5%), hematoma (0.4-5.6%), worsening myelopathy (0.2-3.3%), recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (0.9-3.1%), cerebrospinal fluid leakage (0.5-1.7%), and surgical site infections (0.9-1.6%). One strategy employed to mitigate postoperative complications such as hematoma, surgical site infection, and the need for reoperation is the placement of an indwelling subfascial drain within the surgical site. These drains facilitate the removal of accumulated blood or serous fluid, thereby reducing localized pressure and potentially preventing adverse outcomes. Despite its theoretical benefits, the utility of subfascial drains remains a topic of debate among surgeons. Given the limited evidence on the efficacy of subfascial drain placement following ACDF, this study proposes a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the necessity and impact of subfascial drain placement on postoperative outcomes.

This study will determine whether subfascial drain placement reduces the incidence of postoperative complications, including hematoma, infection, airway compromise and secondary surgeries, compared to no drain placement following ACDF surgery; assess the impact of subfascial drain placement on the severity and duration of postoperative dysphagia compared to no drain placement; and evaluate participant-reported outcomes and satisfaction, including postoperative pain and recovery experience, between the drain and no-drain groups. Up to 360 participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Those signed to the drain group will have a surgical drain placed on the surface of the wound during closure. The drain will be removed within 24 hours. Those in the no-drain group will have their wound closed without a drain. All other aspects of participants' care before and after surgery will be the same. No additional visits are required for this study. Basic information will be collected from participants' medical records, such as age, gender, type of surgery. For 180 days following surgery, participants' health will be monitored through clinical visit notes, phone calls with their doctor or clinic staff, and records of any hospital visits due to complications.

Conditions

ACDF Surgery

Keywords

ACDF Surgery

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

No-drain group

Participants assigned to the no-drain group will have their wound closed without a drain.

No interventions assigned to this group

Drain group

Participants assigned to the drain group will have a surgical drain placed on the surface of the wound during closure. The drain will be removed within 24 hours.

Drain

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Participants assigned to the drain group will have a surgical drain placed on the surface of the wound during closure. The drain will be removed within 24 hours.

Interventions

Drain

Participants assigned to the drain group will have a surgical drain placed on the surface of the wound during closure. The drain will be removed within 24 hours.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 19-75 years of age
• Having elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery

Exclusion Criteria

• Unable to stop anticoagulation medication
• Cervical (neck) cancer or tumor
• Combined anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and posterior cervical fusion
• Active infection or trauma

• Minimum Eligible Age: 19 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Nebraska

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Chris Cornett, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Nebraska

Locations

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Chris Cornett, MD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 402-559-5626

Email: chris.cornett@unmc.edu

Facility Contacts

Chris Cornett, MD

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

0199-25-FB

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id