Treatment of cervical disc disease using Cloward's technique. The prognostic value of clinical preoperative data in 1,106 patients.

During a fifteen-year period 1,106 patients underwent Cloward's operation due to cervical disc disease. An analysis of the clinical features showed that the diseases had a very complex pattern of symptoms and signs. In young patients a syndrome of herniated disc predominated whereas a clinical picture of "cervical spondylosis" was found more often in the elderly. It was demonstrated that best results were obtained in young patients, patients with slight symptoms and patients with monoradicular symptoms. A short duration of symptoms is essential for a good outcome, and, on the basis of the data presented, operation is recommended 3 months after the onset of symptoms of cervical disc disease, if previous conservative treatment has failed.