Outcomes following outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the treatment of myelopathy

ACDF has been a target amongst spinal procedures as a prime candidate for outpatient surgery. However, no previous reports have described complication rates and perioperative parameters in the sub-population of outpatient ACDF patients with myelopathy. In addition to shorter times from admission to operating room, operative time, and LOS, our study also demonstrated lower rates of major and overall complications in outpatient ACDF's for myelopathy in comparison to their inpatient counterparts. Performing ACDF's for myelopathy in an outpatient setting may help to curb costs, improve outcomes, and serve as a valuable learning resource for graduate medical education with rapid turnovers and shorter operative times.