PROCEDURES

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion is the surgical removal of a herniated disc, then sealing of the surrounding bones. The surgery is designed to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, numbness and tingling.

Fusion surgery is almost always done at the same time as the discectomy in order to stabilize the cervical segment.

While this surgery is most commonly done to treat a symptomatic cervical herniated disc, it may also be done for cervical degenerative disc disease. It may also be done for more than one level of the cervical spine.

• Anterior refers to the approach of the surgery, which is from the front of the neck (rather than the back or side)
• This approach provides better access to the neck, and less postoperative pain
• Cervical refers to the position on the spine, which is the upper or neck region
• Discectomy means to remove the disc
• A discectomy is a form of surgical decompression, so the procedure may also be called an anterior cervical decompression.
• Fusion is the process of combining two adjacent vertebrae to create solid bone, thus eliminating any movement.

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