Anterior Cervical Fusion

The Anterior Cervical Fusion procedure is designed to relieve pressure on the cervical spine caused by various nerve compressing spine conditions. The term “anterior” is used because the surgery done from the front of the neck. The procedure involves stabilizing two or more vertebrae by locking them together for stabilization. Once the fusion is complete, the movement of the diseased vertebrae is stopped disabling its ability to compress spinal nerves. The neck portion of the spine contains seven verterbrae connected together by intervertebral disc. Often the position of the vertebral disc are referred to by their number from top to bottom. Since the first seven vertebra are at the top of the spine, they may be referred as C1 thru C7 (See Spine Anatomy). Intervertebral disc lie between C2 and C7 to allow neck movement. C4 thru C7 are mostly responsible for necks ability to bend which is commonly known for disc slippage and herniation. In some cases, conservative methods such as rest and physical therapy are all that is needed to treat these conditions. When surgery is necessary, your Tower Orthopaedics specialist may recommend a minimally invasive Anterior Cervical Fusion (ACF).

Prior to an ACF procedure an MRI scan and X-Rays are complete to locate the diseased area. As the procedure begins, a local anesthesia is applied following a one to two inch incision in the front of the neck depending on the level of disc herniation. Tiny tools including an endoscope for precision are inserted into the affected area. The diseased disc and fragments are then removed with a tiny cutting device to relieve any pressure on the nerves our spinal cord. After the disc is completely removed, small pieces of bone (bone graft) are placed inside of the vacant area (See bone graft).To secure the bone graft, your surgeon may implement special screws and rods which is a process known as fixation. Once the bone graft is locked into place, the small tools are then retracted and the point of insertion is stitched to begin the healing process. A typical fusion procedure takes about two hours, but the time can vary depending on the number of vertebrae involved. Because the minimally invasive nature of this procedure, a patient can usually return home the following day.

Recovery from an ACF depends also on the amount of vertebrae involved. Office workers can normally return to work in a few days, but labor intense workers may choose to take four to six weeks off.