Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

What is Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is a standard surgical procedure performed to remove a herniated or degenerated disc from the neck. After the surgeon removes the damaged disc, they fuse the bones together. The goal of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is to relieve the patient’s chronic pain by removing the source of pressure on the compressed nerves in the neck. Your physician will recommend Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion for the following conditions:

• To remove a disc in your spine that has become worn out or damaged.
• To remove bone spurs on your vertebrae that pinch your nerves. Pinched nerves can make your legs or arms feel numb or weak. 
• To treat a herniated disc, sometimes called a slipped disc. 
• To treat bulging disc
• To treat degenerative disc disease
• To treat trauma or tumors.
• To treat pressure on the spinal cord, caused by a prolapsed or ruptured disc, or other causes of spinal canal narrowing.
• To treat instability of the cervical spine, caused by arthritis, or trauma.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion release the pressure that has been built on the spinal cord due to the displacement of the disc in that region. The modern technique like Endoscopic Micro Discectomy helps to quicken recovery of the patient.

How is Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Performed?

The surgery is called anterior because the surgeon accesses the disc through the front of the neck, rather than through the back. You will be under general anesthesia throughout the entire surgery. An ACDF surgery can take one to four hours depending on the number of discs to be removed.

Step 1 – The surgeon makes a small incision at the front (anterior) of the neck area (cervical) so as not to disturb the spine, spinal cord, or strong muscles in the back of the neck and exposes the vertebrae and discs. 

Step 2 – The surgeon uses tools to take out any bone spurs or discs that are damaged or pushing on your nerves and causing pain. This step is called discectomy. 

Step 3 – The surgeon uses a microscope to remove the damaged disc. After the disc is removed, the surgeon uses a drill to prepare a space in the vertebrae above and below the removed disc, so that they can better hold the material for the bone graft. 

Step 4 – The surgeon places the bone graft or man-made bone graft material into the space and may secure it with screws and a plate. 

Step 5 – The surgeon closes the muscles and skin at the incision with sutures. 

When the body begins its natural healing process after surgery, new bone cells will grow around the bone graft, creating a single piece of bone to join the vertebrae above and below the discectomy. If metal plates and screws have been used, bone may grow around them to reinforce them.