61 patients requiring surgical intervention for cervical disc disease were randomized to undergo either anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using an interbody tantalum implant or plating using an autologous iliac bone graft. The purpose of this study was to compare these two treatment approaches with respect to clinical efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness at 5 years post-operation. Results indicated that although all radiological and clinical outcomes were similar between groups, the ACDF with tantalum implant group displayed a significantly lower complication rate and less annual cost per patient when compared to the plating with autograft group.