• 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies significantly reduce operation time compared to traditional titanium cages in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion.
• They better maintain intervertebral disc height at last follow-up, reducing the risk of subsidence.
• Postoperative dysphagia incidence is lower with 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies.
• No significant differences were found in blood loss, hospital stay, neurological recovery, or fusion rate.