Aim 1: Examine the effect of nanoLOCK technology on rates of postoperative dysphagia after ACDF.~Aim 2: Evaluate the effect of nanoLOCK technology on radiographic fusion.~Aim 3: Evaluate how nanoLOCK technology influences the development of radiographic adjacent segment disease.
Study team will plan a prospective, randomized control trial using our institution's spine clinical outcomes registry. Eligible patients undergoing ACDF (see inclusion criteria listed below) will be randomized to an Intervention or Control Group, which will differ according to the interbody cage used during the procedure. In the Intervention Group (100 patients), Medtronic Titan Endoskeleton TCS zero-profile, stand-alone interbody cages with nanoLOCK osseointegrative technology will be implanted at each treated level. In the Control Group (100 patients), patients will receive an alternative interbody cage system that does not employ nanoLOCK ossteointegrative technology. Interbody cages used in the Control Group (along with the decision to apply anterior plate fixation) will be determined according to surgeon preference. There will be no blinding to the type of implant used. Standard demographic and procedural variables will be collected for all patients (including history of diabetes, tobacco, use, prior use of oral corticosteroids, number of levels fused, and presence of bicortical screw placement). Clinical and radiographic outcomes in the Intervention and Control Groups will be directly compared.