DACDF or Arthroplasty for Contact-Sport Athletes? Dr. Murphy Weighs In at CSRS-NASS 2026
At the 2026 CSRS-NASS collaborative session, Dr. Murphy joined a panel on one of the hardest calls in sports spine surgery: when an athlete can safely return to play after cervical spine injury or surgery. The group compared one-, two-, and three-level ACDF (fusion) against cervical disc arthroplasty (disc replacement) for professional and collision-sport athletes, looking at neurological recovery, spinal stability, motion preservation, and long-term outcomes. Panelists drew on their experience treating pro athletes, including those who have had disc replacement.
An informal poll of attendees found about two-thirds would recommend ACDF over arthroplasty for contact-sport athletes. Arthroplasty keeps motion, but surgeons still vary widely on advising a return to high-impact play. Dr. Murphy noted that Dr. Andrew Hecht’s talk made him reconsider recommending arthroplasty, and he stressed that the athlete’s long-term health comes first.