[Herniated cervical disk, with or without arthrosis--surgical management by simple discectomy or associated with spondylodesis?].

58 patients underwent surgery by an anterior approach for nerve root or spinal cord compression at one or more levels. The cause was a soft disc herniation, an osteophyte or the two combined. 44 underwent simple discectomy with 70.5% good or very good results. 14 also had interbody fusion by the method of Smith and Robinson, with good and very good results in 57.1%. In most cases the latter group had major cervical spondylosis and myelopathy. The bad results were due to severe neurologic lesions (myelopathy), duration of symptoms and associated illness. The anterior approach with use of the microscope provides good vision and involves few complications. Neither recurrence nor secondary posture disorders were observed.