Anterior Cervical Discectomy With Fusion (ACDF) Surgery
Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) surgery is a procedure that helps reduce neck pain and arm pain. During this surgery, a surgeon removes a damaged disc from the neck and then fuses your spine to make it more stable. Your cervical discs sit between the bones (called vertebrae) in your neck and help it bend and move smoothly. ACDF is available from the back, neck and spine care specialists at Summit Orthopedics in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
The ACDF surgical procedure is actually two cervical spine surgeries performed together. First, the surgeon performs a cervical discectomy. For this part, the surgeon takes out a damaged cervical disc in your neck and removes bone spurs to take the pressure off the spinal cord and nerves.
After the disc is removed, the surgeon performs a cervical fusion. During this neck fusion surgery, the surgeon replaces the damaged disc with healthy bone tissue, called a bone graft. As your neck heals, the bone graft and surrounding vertebrae grow together into one solid piece.
ACDF is used to treat two main problems:
- Herniated discs: A disc in your neck slips or tears, and its soft center pushes out.
- Bone spurs: Extra bits of bone, called osteophytes, can grow along the edges of your existing bones.
These issues can press on nearby nerves, ligaments or your spinal cord, causing problems like:
- Myelopathy, or numbness and pain in your legs, arms, feet or hands
- Neck pain
- Radiculopathy, a pinched nerve that causes arm pain, weakness and numbness
- Stiffness
Benefits
ACDF can relieve pressure on pinched nerves or the spinal cord, which is often the cause of severe neck pain, arm pain, numbness, weakness and balance problems. By removing the source of compression, the surgery can reduce your pain and improve function in your neck and arms. This means feeling better, doing everyday activities and going back to work with less pain and better function.
Do I Need ACDF Surgery?
You might need ACDF surgery if other treatments—like medicine, physical therapy or steroid shots—haven’t helped your neck or arm pain. You might also need ACDF surgery if you have severe weakness or spinal cord dysfunction.
There are a few things that decide if ACDF surgery is right for you. Your surgeon will look at your health, age, physical exam, diagnosis and what you want to do after the surgery.
What to Expect
ACDF surgery is a major procedure that requires general anesthesia. Once you’re asleep, your surgeon makes a small incision in front of your neck. They gently move soft tissue to reach the front of your bones and remove the damaged discs and bone spurs. They replace the disc with a small bone graft or a metal cage and may add small metal plates or screws to help hold the bones together.
Risks
All surgeries, including ACDF, come with risks. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any possible risks, which can include:
- Blood clots
- Blood loss
- Bowel and bladder problems
- Complications from anesthesia
- Dysphasia, a condition that causes minor swallowing issues or voice changes, particularly when singing or public speaking
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Problems with the bone graft fusing correctly
Recovering After Surgery
Everyone’s neck surgery recovery time may look different, including how long you stay in the hospital. As a minimally invasive surgery, ACDF usually offers shorter recovery times. After surgery, you will be able to get up and walk. You may return to light work in two weeks, depending on how well your body is healing and the type of work or activity level you plan to return to.
Your doctor will give you a personalized plan to follow after surgery. This will help you get back to your usual activities safely and as quickly as possible.
Rest
In the first few days after surgery, your focus will be on resting and light activities. You will have to avoid lifting, bending over and bending backward. Gentle movement is encouraged, such as rotating your body. Your care team will go over which activities are safe and which to avoid.
Pain medication
Controlling your pain after ACDF surgery is key. You’ll likely need pain medication for a few days (and in some cases, a few weeks). Your doctor’s team will work with you to prescribe any needed medicine.
Physical therapy
After ACDF surgery, physical therapy (PT) is important to help you get better. It starts with simple exercises to make your neck stronger and help you move better. PT helps reduce pain and swelling, too. The therapist will guide you in doing the exercises correctly so you can heal safely.
As you heal, the therapist will slowly add more exercises to improve your flexibility and strength. PT helps you get back to your normal activities and makes sure your neck heals right. The therapist might use special treatments, like ice or heat, to help you feel more comfortable during recovery.
ACDF Surgery at Summit Orthopedics
Neck and arm pain can make it hard to enjoy work, hobbies or everyday activities. At Summit Orthopedics, our expert surgeons are here to help with ACDF surgery, a procedure designed to reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. If you think ACDF surgery might be right for you, we’re happy to help.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.
Find your Summit Orthopedics back, neck and spine care expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
