ACDF: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a type of neck surgery that involves removing a damaged disc to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and
alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.
A discectomy is a form of surgical decompression, so the procedure may also be called an anterior cervical decompression.
ACDF surgery is designed to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure in the neck by removing all or part of a damaged disc.
Watch: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Video
The surgery has 2 parts:
• Anterior cervical discectomy. The surgery is approached through the anterior, or front, of the cervical spine (neck). The disc is then removed from between two vertebral bones.
See Cervical Spine Anatomy and Neck Pain
• Fusion. A fusion surgery is done at the same time as the discectomy operation in order to stabilize the cervical segment. A fusion involves placing bone graft and/or implants where the disc originally was in order to provide stability and strength to the area.