Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Versus Total Disc Replacement with a Viscoelastic Prosthesis for Single-Level Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease in Young Adults: A Comparative Retrospective Cohort Study

Background/Objectives: The optimal surgical approach for patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) remains a subject of ongoing debate, particularly when comparing anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and total disc replacement (TDR). The primary objective of this study was to compare short-term outcomes between these two surgical approaches in terms of clinical efficacy, patient satisfaction, and safety profile. The secondary objective was to evaluate patient-specific variables associated with postoperative improvement in order to identify potential factors that may guide a personalized surgical strategy.