Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

What is Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)?

ACDF surgery, a sort of neck surgery that removes a broken disk for the purpose of relieving spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviating appropriate pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling. A discectomy is a type of surgical decompression. The procedure is anterior since the doctor accesses the disk via the front of the neck instead of the back. In order to reach and remove the disk, an incision is created in the neck. The bones above and below the disk are fused into a graft.

What are the symptoms leading to the doctor’s recommendation – Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgery?

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Pain
• Muscle spasms
• Reduced sensation of touch

Evaluations for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgery

• X-rays
• CT scan
• MRI
• Myelogram

Treatment for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) 

In this procedure, general anesthesia is given to the patient. On the right or left side of the neck, a small skin incision is created. By moving the muscles in the neck and removing the trachea, esophagus, and arteries, the doctor creates the tunnel to the spine. The muscles on the vertebrae front are then raised and kept apart so that the doctor can see the cellular vertebras and disks. The surgeon places a slim needle in the disk with the help of a fluoroscope to find the vertebra and the disks affected. With a retractor, the vertebrae bones underneath the damaged disk are spread out. The exterior disk is cut. A few of the disk is removed by the surgeon using tiny grasping instruments and then the remaining disk can be removed by a surgical microscope. The ligament behind the spinal vertebras is separated and any disks that press the spinal nerves are removed. It removes bone spurs pressing on the root of the nerve. With a drill, the foramen that exits the spinal nerve is expanded. This operation, known as foraminotomy, provides more space for the nerves to leave the spinal canal. The open disk space on the back and sides is prepared using a drill by removing the cortical external layer of bone to reveal the blood-rich cancellous bone within. The bone graft is often strengthened by a metal plate that is screwed in the vertebrae to provide stability during the fusion process. The location of the graft, plate, and screws is checked by an X-ray.

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