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Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Surgical Intervention for Treating Cervical Disc Disease
Author(s) -
Karasin Beth,
Grzelak Monica
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1002/aorn.13329
Subject(s) - medicine , anterior cervical discectomy and fusion , discectomy , surgery , cervical spondylosis , degenerative disc disease , decompression , diskectomy , stenosis , perioperative , spinal stenosis , intervertebral disc , disc herniation , cervical spine , radiology , lumbar vertebrae , lumbar , pathology , alternative medicine
Cervical disc disease includes chronic disc degeneration, stenosis, spondylosis, and disc herniation; providers initially treat these conditions conservatively through symptomatic care. When conservative measures fail, surgery may be indicated. It is important to explore all the surgical options available and the risks and benefits of each procedure. An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a procedure involving the removal of disc material to achieve neural tissue decompression and placement of a bone graft or interbody implant and a cervical plate and screws to stabilize the spinal column at one or more vertebral levels. This article briefly reviews the anatomy of the spine and treatment options for cervical disc disease; presents an in‐depth review of the ACDF procedure, including the expected perioperative course and care considerations; and concludes with a case report of a 37‐year‐old woman who underwent an ACDF at the C5‐C6 and C6‐C7 vertebral levels of the spine.