What is Anterior Cervical Discectomy?
Anterior cervical discectomy is a surgery performed on the cervical spine. This is the top section of the spine or the first seven vertebrae. Sometimes injury or wear and tear can cause the discs that fill the spaces between each vertebra to rupture or bulge, which results in significant pain in the neck or arms. Often times, neck pain resolves on its own, but when injury exists that is not healing, people may require anterior cervical discectomy. The surgery itself can remove one or more damaged discs. Since this leaves space in between vertebrae, bone grafts, usually taken from the person having the surgery may be placed in the empty space where they will gradually fuse with the vertebra surrounding them. Not all anterior cervical discectomies include bone grafts, and some surgeons leave the space between two vertebrae open.
