Do you have persistent radiating neck and arm pain because of a pinched nerve? Nerve compression is not just painful, but can disrupt sleep, limit daily activities, and make even small tasks feel overwhelming. At Atlantic Orthopaedics, spine surgeon Dr. Philip Zakko specializes in helping patients find lasting relief through cervical spine procedures like Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) and Cervical Disc Replacement (CDR). Dr. Zakko performs the surgery at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and York Hospital.
How ACDF Benefits Patients
ACDF surgery is designed to relieve pressure on spinal nerves caused by a degenerated or herniated disc in the cervical spine. When a disc bulges, it can compress nearby nerves, triggering pain that travels from the neck into the arms. If conservative treatments like physical therapy or injections haven’t helped, the procedure could help patients reduce pain and regain mobility.
Who is a Good Candidate?
ACDF is recommended for patients who:
- Have neck pain radiating into their upper extremities
- Have MRI evidence of nerve compression
- Have completed six or more weeks of conservative treatment, such as physical therapy and/or injections, without improvement
How Does the ACDF Procedure Work?
With the patient under anesthesia, Dr. Zakko begins by making a small horizontal incision along the neck. Next, the damaged disc and bone spurs (if any) are removed. Once the space is cleared, a piece of donor bone, or a metal spacer filled with bone material, is placed where the disc was, creating a bridge that will allow the vertebrae to fuse into a single bone over time. To keep everything stable during healing, a small metal plate and screws are typically used to hold the bones in place.
Physical therapy may be prescribed during recovery to strengthen the neck muscles and increase mobility. Within a few months after the ACDF procedure, most patients experience less pain and are able to return to their normal activities.
A Patient Success Story
We asked Dr. Zakko to tell us about a recent patient who underwent ACDF with excellent results. His patient–a 70-year-old man–arrived with three months of significant right arm pain that radiated from his neck to his middle finger, along with weakness in his right triceps.
Despite more than six weeks of physical therapy, his symptoms persisted. X-rays showed degenerative disc disease at the C6-7 level, and an MRI confirmed compression of the right C7 nerve root caused by a disc osteophyte complex.
The patient elected to undergo C6-7 ACDF with Dr. Zakko. The surgery went smoothly, and he woke up with immediate relief of his arm pain and a return of strength–a life-changing improvement after months of discomfort.
What Patients Should Know
ACDF has long been considered the gold standard surgical treatment for symptomatic cervical disc degeneration, although Dr. Zakko notes that some patients may be candidates for a motion-preserving option called Cervical Disc Replacement. By replacing the affected disc with an artificial one, CDR can help maintain natural movement in the neck and help preserve adjacent levels from future wear and tear.
Cervical Spine Care Tailored for You
Whether you’re dealing with a painful compressed nerve or other neck and spine issues, Dr. Zakko and the team at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine are here to help you understand your options and find the treatment that works for you. With expertise in both minimally invasive and traditional surgical techniques, Dr. Zakko provides expert, individualized care to restore your quality of life and get you back to the activities you love.
To learn more about ACDF or other cervical spine treatments, schedule a consultation with Dr. Zakko. Relief could be closer than you think.
