Comparison of the effectiveness of zero-profile device and plate cage construct in the treatment of one-level cervical disc degenerative disease combined with moderate to severe paraspinal muscle degeneration.

Objective: Recent evidence indicates that cervical paraspinal muscle degeneration (PMD) is a prevalent and age-related condition in patients with cervical disc degenerative disease (CDDD). However, the relationship between surgery selection and post-operative outcomes in this population remains unclear. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the disparities in clinical outcomes, radiological findings, and complications between two frequently utilized anterior cervical surgical procedures.