Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)

ACDF is the gold-standard procedure for treating cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerves in the neck) and cervical spondylosis. When a disc in the neck ruptures, it presses against the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots, causing shooting pain, electric tingling, and severe weakness down the shoulders and arms. Approaching the spine from the front (anterior) allows the surgeon direct access to the disc without disturbing the thick muscle groups of the back of the neck, leading to much faster recovery times for international patients.