Anterior Cervical Dissectomy & Fusion (ACDF)
This procedure removes the damaged disc or discs (along with bone spurs) to “unpinch” the nerve and/or spinal cord in order to relieve nerve pain, weakness, or numbness. A fusion, which includes placing a bone graft or implant in place of the damaged disc provides stability. It is also called anterior cervical decompression.
Depending upon the complexity, ACDF may require an overnight hospital stay. Following surgery, the patient may experience pain and stiffness and pain medication may be required for the first few days. Most patients have difficulty swallowing after this surgery that is usually resolved within a few hours to a few days. More complicated surgery will require longer times for improvement. All post-surgical instructions (exercises, incision care, and pain management) will be fully discussed with the patient prior to and following surgery.
