CARE & TREATMENT IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
The Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion surgery removes a herniated or diseased disc and relieves neck and radiating arm pain caused by parts of the disc pressing on nerve roots.
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: An anterior interbody fusion is designed to sop the motion at the symptomatic segment of the spine. An ALIF is most commonly done to treat lumbar degenerative disc disease, in which the degenerated disc becomes painful.
Do you have a constant throbbing pain in your neck and want pain relief? Consider seeking a procedure called anterior cervical discectomy and fusion from a qualified spine surgeon in New York. Our skilled and experienced surgeons can fuse your cervical disks and help you achieve long-term pain relief.
What is ACDF surgery? It is a surgical procedure that makes an incision in the front of the neck (near the side of the neck) to remove (dissect) an injured disc and fuse the two adjacent vertebrae. Your neck is part of the cervical spine region and consists of a series of small vertebrae separated by discs of cartilage that give it its range of motion.
By removing the disc and fusing the bones, ACDF can provide long-term or permanent pain relief for conditions such as:
Cleveland Clinic estimates the success rate of this procedure between 85% and 95%.
The doctor may consider you a good candidate for ACDF if you have significant pain in your neck, upper back, and arms from compressed spinal nerves in your upper spine. Even though ACDF remains less invasive than other spinal surgeries, your doctor will still ask you to seek more conservative treatments, like physical therapy or steroid injections, before you receive the surgery.
Not everyone can receive the surgery, especially if your doctor doesn’t feel the surgery will provide a successful solution. Other factors that could prevent you from receiving the procedure include the following:
What are the benefits of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion compared to other procedures?
Compared to posterior operations (which enter through the back of your neck) most patients experience less severe pain. This means you won’t take pain medications for as long and you’ll find it much easier to manage your pain.
When the doctor accesses your spinal column from the front or side of your neck, the doctor has less risk of damaging a vital nerve. The procedure also has fewer unknown risks.
In general, patients recover faster from anterior surgeries than they do from posterior ones.
ACDF can treat a wider variety of patients and more insurance policies cover it than more traditional spinal surgeries.
According to Healthline Media, ACDF has an overall complication rate between 13% to 19%, though severe complications remain very rare. Potential side effects include:
If you’re considering an ACDF procedure, you can expect the following from the process.
After confirming you’re a good candidate for the operation, your doctor will ask you to prepare in the following ways:
During the appointment, you’ll receive general anesthesia so you sleep throughout the operation. The surgeon makes a one- or two-inch horizontal incision near the front of your neck.
The surgeon removes the affected discs and any bone spurs before fusing the vertebrae. As the bones heal, they form into a single bone. To bridge the gap between the vertebrae, the doctor inserts a bone graft, usually taken from a bone bank.
The surgeon will insert screws to hold everything in place and close you up. You should wake up shortly after they complete the procedure.
You’ll likely stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next morning. For up to three months, your doctor will ask you to follow this advice and more:
Whether you’re wondering about the difference between a spine surgeon vs. a neurosurgeon or you think you’re a good candidate for ACDF, New York Spine Specialist can help. As the most trusted spine specialist in New York, you’ll feel comfortable and cared for throughout the entire process.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Book an appointment online or call us at 516-355-0111
You’ll feel a moderate level of pain after ACDF, which most people manage with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medications.
ACDF surgery usually takes between one to two hours. Some people take longer to wake up from the anesthesia.
Complete recovery for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion requires between six and eight weeks, according to Verywell Health, though some people may take up to three months. The procedure requires an overnight stay and most people return home the next day.
