Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

Indicated in patients who have been diagnosed with a cervical disc herniation and/or bony spur resulting in nerve compression. This can often lead to pain, numbness and/or weakness in the neck, shoulder, arm, hand and fingers. If the pain does not settle with time and medical management, key-hole surgery is performed with an incision made at the front of the neck in an existing crease line.

The ruptured disc or bony spur is removed and cervical nerve roots decompressed. A piece of bone graft or an artificial disc spacer filled with bone graft is placed between the vertebral bodies at this level of the neck to maintain normal disc height and then an anterior cervical plate and screws are added to help further stabilise the neck.  Relief of arm and shoulder pain is often immediate and patients usually require a 1-3 night stay in hospital.