Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a surgical procedure to remove a herniated or degenerative disc in the neck. The surgery involves making an incision in the throat area to access the cervical spine, and then removing the damaged disc to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, or numbness. The procedure is often used to treat herniated discs, compressed nerves, or other neck conditions that cause nerve pain in the neck that radiates down to the shoulder and arms (cervical radiculopathy or brachialgia) or cervical spinal cord compression (cervical myelopathy) .
During the surgery, the unhealthy disc is removed (discectomy) and replaced with an interbody fusion implant. A plate, spacer, and screws construct, or an integrated plate-spacer with fixation, may be used to hold the vertebrae in place while fusion (joining of two bones) occurs. The procedure is performed at one or more disc levels in the spine simultaneously through an incision in the front of the neck.
ACDF is a minimally invasive procedure, meaning less soft tissue can be dissected to achieve surgery success than in conventional, open procedures. After ACDF surgery, some patients may experience throat soreness or a hoarse voice, each of which will resolve quickly after surgery. Patients may likewise experience temporary discomfort when swallowing. In rare instances, some patients may have difficulty swallowing fully, known as dysphagia, which can be treated.
Patients who undergo ACDF surgery can expect to return to normal activities after a period of recovery, which varies between patients. Patients may notice improvement of some or all symptoms, and pain from surgery may diminish between 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. However, as with any surgery, there are risks involved, and patients should follow their doctors guidelines and keep an eye out for post-procedure red flags, such as fever, chills, difficulty swallowing or breathing, severe pain or stiffness in the neck, swelling, fluid drainage, bleeding, redness, a foul smell, or warmth at the incision site.
