What is an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion?
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion is a procedure that uses an operating microscope to remove a herniated disc that is causing pressure on a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord. The magnification provided by the microscope enables the neurosurgeon to make a small incision in the skin of the neck to perform the discectomy. Description of the surgery: Before surgery, intravenous antibiotics are administered to decrease the risk of infection. You will be anesthetized (put to sleep) while lying on your back following which your head will be placed in special head-holder for the surgery. The surgery is performed through a small incision on either the right or left side of the neck over the diseased disc or discs. The surgical dissection continues down to the cervical spine by gently retracting the large artery in the neck (carotid artery) to one side, while retracting the swallowing tube (esophagus) and breathing tube (trachea) to the other side. The diseased disc level(s) is/are co
