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The Surgery Center of Middle TennesseeThe Surgery Center of Middle Tennessee

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Anterior Cervical Fusion (ACF)

Anterior Cervical Fusion (ACF) is a procedure that stabilizes the back by grafting any number of the two to seven vertebrae together. This prevents motion and eases pain. As patients heal, the graft and vertebrae grow together. The procedure is done from the front of the neck.

What to expect

Under general anesthesia, a small incision is made to one side of the neck at the collar line. The trachea, or windpipe, and the esophagus are pulled to one side to give clear access to the front of the vertebral bodies and to the discs so that discs and bone spurs can be removed easily. A small piece of bone, either from the patient or from a donor, is placed in the space where the disc was removed. Sometimes, doctors will use surgical wires, rods, screws, metal cages or plates, and a titanium plate may be put over the bone plug to prevent it from moving.

The windpipe and the food pipe are returned to their right place and the incision is closed. The entire procedure takes one to three hours.

How to prepare

Smokers should cut down or stop in the days before the surgery. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before. Arrangements should be made for a ride home. The doctor will advise the patient of any medications prohibited before the surgery.

ACL Repair Anterior Cervical Fusion (ACF) Arthrodesis Blepharoplasty Bunion/Hammer Toe Correction Cataract Surgery Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Treatments Corneal Transplants Disc Decompression Dupuytren's Surgery Epidural Steroid Injection Eye Exams and Consultations Eyelid Surgery for Aging Eyes Facet Joint Injections Ganglion Mass Excision General Anesthesia Glaucoma Laser Treatments IOLs Implantable Contact Lenses Intercostal Nerve Blocks Intrathecal Pumps – Trial and Implant Joint Arthroscopy: Knee, Shoulder and Ankle Joint Injections Ligament Repair Lumbar Discectomy Lumbar Laminectomy Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) Oculoplastics & Reconstructive Surgery Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) Orthopedic Procedures Pain Stimulator Insertion (Spinal Cord Stimulation) Peripheral Nerve Blocks Plantar Fasciotomy Pterygium Surgery Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Radiofrequency Lesioning Repair of Fractures, Tendons, Nerves Rotator Cuff Repair Sacral Nerve Stimulation Sacroiliac Joint Injection Selective Nerve Blocks (SNRB) Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial Spine Procedures Strabismus Surgery Sympathetic Ganglion Ablations Sympathetic Nerve Blocks Tenosynovectomy Trabeculectomy Trigger Point Injections Vision Services Vitrectomy YAG Laser Procedure
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The Surgery Center of Middle Tennessee
1050 North James Campbell Blvd., Suite 120,
Columbia, TN 38401

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