Routine In-Hospital Radiographs Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Surgery: Neither Necessary nor Cost-Effective?

Abstract

Background: Despite a paucity of evidence or literature to support routine in-hospital Post-Operative Radiographs (POXR) of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgery, it remains accepted practice (to perform one). Most spinal surgeons consider it part of their standard post-operative routine for ACDF despite nearly always documenting a 'satisfactory intra-operative image' at the end of the operation. With an increasing financial pressure on NHS resources, our investigations should be clinically justified, and evidence based.