The Step By Step Process Involved in an ACDF

Are you curious about the step by step process involved in an ACDF? Florida Surgery Consultants can help you better understand ACDF surgery and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.  

The ACDF Surgery Process

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a surgery to reduce or eliminate chronic pain in the neck and back due to a problem with the dics. The surgeon will perform the surgery through the neck, instead of from the back, which makes it an anterior procedure.

There are a few steps to ACDF surgery and it usually takes from 1 to 3 hours:

Step 1) Prepping the Patient for Surgery

The first thing you will be asked to do is lie down on the examination table. Once you are comfortable, anesthesia can be administered. The neck area will be prepped by our surgical team once the patient is unconscious. If the patient is also getting a fusion, the hip area will be prepped as well for a bone graft at this time.

Step 2) Initial Incision is Made

A 2 inch skin incision is made on the right or left side of the patient’s neck. This procedure is meant to be minimally invasive, so the surgeon use that initial incision to gain access to the spine by moving aside muscles in patient’s neck. 

Step 3) Locating the Damaged Disc

With the aid of a fluoroscope, the surgeon is able to pass a thin needle into the spine. This specialized tool is able to locate the impacted disc. Once it has been located, the vertebrae above and below the damaged disc are spread apart using a special retractor. 

Step 4) Removing the Damaged Disc

Next a small incision is made in the outer wall of the disc. The surgeon removes ⅔ of the impacted disc using small grasping tools and a special microscope to remove the rest of the disc. Any portion that is pressing on the spinal nerve will be removed at this point.

Step 5) Decompressing the Nerve 

Any bone spurs pressing against the patient’s nerve root are removed. The foramen magnum, through which the spinal nerve runs, is enlarged with a special drill. This specific procedure opens up the spinal canal and gives the nerves some needed extra room.

Step 6) Preparing a Bone Graft Fusion

With a drill, the surgeon will prepare the open disc space by removing the outer layer of bone and exposing the blood-rich cancellous bone underneath. This creates a “bed” where the bone graft material you have chosen will be placed. 

Step 7) Closing the Incision

All tools are removed, the muscle and skin incisions are stitched closed and a paste is placed across the incision.

Recovering from ACDF Surgery in Florida

You will be in the recovery area, which is where you will wake up. Once awake, they will monitor you, ask about pain levels and make sure everything is as it should be.It will take anywhere from 1-6 weeks for you to be feeling back to normal, but you will get there. You should however, be able to get back to your everyday activities within a few days.  

Florida Surgery Consultants employs a team of board certified neurosurgeons at our outpatient surgical centers in Central Florida. We have six locations here in Florida; including Tampa, Palm Harbor, Lakewood Ranch, Lakeland, and Ocala. Schedule an appointment for your ACDF surgery right now, because our surgeons are some of the best!