Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion | |
---|---|
Specialty | neurosurgeon |
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a surgical procedure to treat nerve root or spinal cord compression by decompressing the
Medical uses
ACDF is used to treat serious pain from a nerve root that has become inflamed. This can be caused by:[citation needed]
1. a herniated disc when other non-surgical treatments have failed. The
2. degenerative disc disease (spondylosis). The disc consists of about 80% water. When one grows older, the disc starts to dry out and shrink, causing small tears in the annulus and inflammation of the nerve root.
Contraindications
Technique
The
To prevent the vertebrae from collapsing and to increase stability, the open space is often filled with a graft. That can be a
Apart from open approach, recently full endoscopic approach for ACDF has also been described.[5]
Recovery
The surgery requires a short stay in the clinic (1 to 3 days) and a gradual recovery between 1 and 6 weeks. However, the technology has advanced and it can be performed by 'Endoscopic Micro Discectomy" with the patient able to continue their normal life in two days. The patient may be advised to wear a neck brace or collar (for up to 8 weeks) that serves to ensure proper spinal alignment. Wearing the brace heightens one's awareness of posture and positioning and helps prevent movements (e.g., sudden and/or excessive bending or twisting of the neck) that may aggravate or slow down the healing process. [citation needed]
It is especially advisable to wear a protective neck brace when traveling (e.g., by car), sleeping, showering, or any other activities in which the patient may not be able to be ensure proper spinal alignment. In addition, physical therapy and related healing modalities (e.g., massage, acupuncture) may be recommended in order to promote proper healing, as well as to strengthen the surrounding muscles that can take over the neck brace's 'job' of ensuring proper spinal alignment when the patient starts (around 4 to 6 weeks after surgery) to wean off the neck brace.[citation needed]
References
- ^ PMID 29796378.
- PMID 28315798.
- ^ ABIM Foundation, North American Spine Society, retrieved 25 March 2013, which cites
- Schultz, Daniel G. (July 1, 2008). "Public Health Notifications (Medical Devices) - FDA Public Health Notification: Life-threatening Complications Associated with Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein in Cervical Spine Fusion". fda.gov. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
- Woo EJ (October 2012). "Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2: adverse events reported to the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database". The Spine Journal. 12 (10): 894–9. PMID 23098616.
- PMID 28815162.
- ISSN 0975-2625.