Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion surgery Options

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) are one of the approved and commonly performed surgeries. It is the procedure to decompress and fuse the cervical cord and the spinal nerve, respectively. Many people get confused with the operation of ACDF and ACDA, which is abbreviated as anterior cervical disc arthroplasty. ACDF is recommended for patients suffering from spondylosis or disc herniation of the cervical spine, which often remains unresponsive to the various other conservative options to treat the disease. Furthermore, your healthcare practitioner may suggest this surgery if you are going through any malignant, traumatic, or infective processes of the cervical vertebrae.

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What is meant by Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?

Discectomy has got its general meaning as "cutting out the disc." It is a form of surgery that can be performed anywhere along the spine from the neck, i.e., cervical, to the lower back, i.e., lumbar. The surgeon often reaches the impacted or affected lumbar from the front area or anterior of the spine through the throat. This is because the surgery from the front of the neck is more accessible to the impacted or cervical area than the disc's posterior or back. This access does not disturb other bones, the spinal cord, nerves, or muscles. Depending on the symptoms you have been fighting, your healthcare practitioner may remove one or multiple discs. 

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What is the step-by-step procedure of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion?

You can expect your surgeon to give you anesthesia to help you remain unconscious through the surgical procedure. You can discuss the things with your doctor if you already have any allergic reaction to general anesthesia and use any medication. ACDF is the kind of surgery that takes around one to four hours with the need to stay in the hospital. Depending on the severity of the condition, the doctor will first diagnose the situation and provide you with the information, i.e., how many discs need to be removed. 4

Your healthcare practitioner will follow the following steps:

1. They will make a small cut on the front of your neck called an anterior area of the neck.
2. They will move your body parts like the food pipe, trachea, and blood vessels asides and reach the vertebrae.
3. After that, the impacted area will be identified. The impacted area can be vertebrae, disks, or nerves. The x-ray of the neck or the complete spinal cord will help your doctor to find out which part needs the surgery.
4. After that, your doctor will use the tools to remove damaged bone spurs or disks. This spur may cause you little pain or little sensation. This process is known as a discectomy, i.e., cutting out the damaged or deformed part of the vertebrae or spinal cord.
5. After the discectomy has been performed, your doctor will take a small piece of bone from another part of the neck (autograft) or somewhere from the donor (allograft) and use any metal or synthetic compound to fill the space within the bones. This step of the whole procedure is known as bone graft fusion.
6. Afterward, the doctor will attach the two bones using titanium plates and screws and join the area where the disc has been removed and a discectomy performed.
7. Now, the doctor will put all the other body parts, like the esophagus, food pipe, trachea, and blood vessels, in their place. After that, the doctor will use a thread to stitch the area where the incision has been made. So, instantly book an online appointment with the Best Orthopedic Doctor in Panchkula.

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Who is the right person or candidate for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)?

You can have the ACDF surgery if you have one of the following conditions -

• Diagnostic tests that prove you have any health issues like herniated disc, degenerative disc, etc.
• If you are having any particular issue with your legs and arms
• If you are going through worse neck pain
• If any of the above symptoms have worsened and you cannot carry yourself physically, you may depend entirely on your medications.

ACDF is the kind of surgery that may help you treat the following health issues:

• Bulging and herniated disc: a gel-like material within the discs of the vertebra that help in maintaining flexibility. If this gel ruptures or bulges through the surrounding wall (annulus), irritation, swelling, and other symptoms may occur. Even the material or the inner content may come out of the neck.
• Degenerative disc disease: the disc may wear out, bones may get spurs, and the facet joints may inflame. The discs may dry out, and the discs may also lose their cushiony substance, making the spaces between them smaller and smaller daily. These changes lead to health issues called canal stenosis or disc herniation.

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What can you expect after the Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) surgery?

After the surgery is performed and after you awake from the surgery. Your healthcare provider will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. If there is any pain in your neck or body, you can talk or discuss the same with your surgeon. Once awake, you can try doing regular work like sitting, standing, walking, or using the stairs. You may feel a little discomfort if you have undergone surgery using the bone taken from your hip area. Patients are often sent back to their homes within one or two days after the nurse does the monitoring. However, if you still have difficulty breathing, you can consult the best orthopedic doctor in Nashik or the best orthopedic doctor in Pune. 

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Conclusion - 

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is the surgery to correct deformity in the vertebrae or the cervical or lumbar area. It is one of the highly successful surgeries that help you regain confidence with the recovery of control over your neck and limbs. Although the recovery may take a long time, nearly six months or one year, you can return to your daily schedule and may perform a few small tasks that may not hinder you from performing any task in the future.