Approach
Anterior (front of the neck)
Duration
~1 hour 30 minutes
Hospital stay
Typically overnight
Overview
ACDF removes a damaged cervical disc through a small incision on the front of the neck, replaces it with a bone graft or spacer, and fixes the segment with a small titanium plate to allow the vertebrae to fuse.
Who it's for
Patients with neck pain, arm pain, numbness, or weakness from cervical disc herniation or degeneration that has not improved with non-surgical care.
Why patients choose this approach
- Small incision in a natural skin crease on the front of the neck
- One of the most established and reliable cervical spine procedures
- Most patients see significant arm pain relief within weeks
Conditions treated
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy — a 'pinched nerve' in the neck — produces pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand along the path of the affected nerve.
Cervical Disc Herniation
A cervical disc herniation occurs when a disc in the neck pushes through its outer ring and presses on a spinal nerve, producing neck pain plus radiating symptoms into the shoulder, arm, or hand.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease describes age-related wear of the spinal discs that can lead to chronic neck or back pain and contribute to other spine problems including herniations, stenosis, and instability.
This page is a general overview. Detailed surgical, recovery, and risk information is reviewed at your in-person consultation with Dr. Kazarian.