This acronym stands for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.
- Anterior = in the front, meaning that the surgery is done through the front
- Cervical = in the neck, which is called the cervical spine
- Discectomy = the problematic disc is removed (or almost all of the disc is removed)
- Fusion = bone graft is used to fuse the two vertebrae together (where the disc had been)
Watch: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Video
An ACDF surgery is done for symptomatic cervical disc problems, most commonly for a cervical herniated disc. It can also be done to address problems from degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and/or osteoarthritis in the cervical spine. For example, during the ACDF surgery, osteophytes (bones spurs) and any extra disc material associated with those conditions may also be removed.
