Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is a common, generally safe surgical procedure to treat herniated or degenerated discs in the neck by removing the damaged disc through a small front-neck incision and fusing the vertebrae with a graft and often a plate. It effectively relieves pressure on nerves/spinal cord to treat pain, weakness, or numbness. Recovery usually allows for returning to light, daily activities within 3-4 months, with full fusion taking 6-12 months.

Anterior Cervical Disc Replacement (ACDR) is a motion-preserving surgical procedure to treat herniated or degenerated discs in the neck (C3-C7) by removing the damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial implant. It relieves nerve compression (neck/arm pain) while preserving neck mobility, offering a potential alternative to spinal fusion.

This procedure relieves pressure on the nerve roots in the spine. It is most commonly performed to relieve the pain of stenosis. This is a narrowing of the spinal canal that is often caused by the formation of bony growths that can press against the nerve roots. The surgeon may treat one or more vertebrae.