Perioperative and postoperative outcomes.
| Outcomes | ACDF (N = 38) | Endoscopic Foraminotomy (N = 17) | P |
| Perioperative | |||
| Duration of symptoms, mo, mean ± SD | 6.3 ± 5.2 | 19.1 ± 33.3 | 0.737 |
| Disc location, n (%) | 0.248 | ||
| Central | 2 (5.3%) | 1 (5.9%) | |
| Paramedian | 11 (28.9%) | 2 (11.8%) | |
| Lateral | 20 (52.6%)* | 14 (82.4%) | |
| Disc bulging/herniation, n (%) | 38 (100.0%) | 17 (100.0%) | - |
| Operative time, min, mean ± SD | 167.7 ± 22.0 | 142.7 ± 27.4 | <0.001 |
| Estimated blood loss, mL, mean ± SD | 32.2 ± 47.6 | 9.9 ± 11.6 | <0.001 |
| Outpatient, n (%) | 0 | 16 (94.1%) | <0.001 |
| Discharge home, n (%) | 38 (100.0%) | 17 (100%) | - |
| Length of stay, d, mean ± SD (range) | 1.1 ± 0.51–4 | 0.1 ± 0.2 (0–1) | <0.001 |
| Postoperative | |||
| Neurological/pain improvement at 6 wk, n (%) | 38 (100.0%) | 17 (100.0%) | - |
| Postoperative opioid use, n (%) | 30 (78.9%) | 0 | <0.001 |
| Follow-up, mo, mean ± SD | 11.5 ± 10.7 | 7.1 ± 7.4 | 0.247 |
| Readmission, n (%) | 0 | 1 (5.9%) | 0.309 |
| Reoperation, n (%) | 1 (2.6%) | 1 (5.9%) | 0.527 |
| Complications, n (%) | 3 (7.9%) | 0 | 0.544 |
| Total initial surgical cost, mean ± 95% CI | $27,782 ± $2011 | $10,103 ± $720 | <0.001 |
Note: Mean ± SD or 95% confidence interval tested with 2-tailed t test; n (%) differences tested with Fisher’s exact test. Boldface indicates statistically significant findings.