Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a minimally invasive surgery used to remove a herniated or degenerative disc in the cervical portion of the spine. If you are experiencing neck pain symptoms and have not found relief from more conservative approaches to treatment, you might talk with your doctor or consult with California Spine & Pain Institute about surgical options like ACDF.

IS ACDF RIGHT FOR ME?

ACDF is a procedure that involves both a discectomy, in which a vertebral disc is removed, and a spinal fusion, which allows for parts of the spinal bone to fuse together and provide more stability in your spine.

In the procedure, Dr. Magued Fadly makes a small incision in the throat area, and uses an endoscope to help guide small instruments into the surgical area. These instruments are used to remove the damaged disc and clean out the area between the vertebrae.

A bone graft is then inserted into the surgical area, and a metal plate is secured over the graft area. The bone graft is used to fuse the vertebrae together. Following surgery, your body begins its natural healing process and new bone cells grow around the graft. In 3 to 6 months, the bone graft should join the two vertebrae and form a solid bone structure.

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR ACDF?

All types of surgery can involve risk, no matter how minimally invasive. If you are experiencing neck pain, you should talk with your doctor about all of your treatment options, both non-surgical and surgical.

After a spinal fusion procedure, you may notice some loss of range-of-motion, but this can vary between patients.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a well-established procedure and provided relief in most of our patients.

If you have any questions about the ACDF procedure or are experiencing symptoms that are painful, make an appointment to talk with Dr. Magued Fadly and the California Spine & Pain Institute team today.