Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Cervical spine surgery requires precision care to avoid damaging other key tissues that rest in close proximity to the neck, but the fact of the matter is that some irritation is necessary in order to move structures out of the way so that the surgeon can visualize the surgical site. This is particularly true when it comes to an Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) procedure.

During an ACDF, the surgeon makes a small incision on the front of the neck and then gently moves the trachea and windpipe from their normal resting places in order to get a clear line of sight on the cervical spine. This approach typically provides a better visualization of the damaged disc, making it a more ideal technique for both surgeon and patient. However, one potential side effect of this approach is short-term damage or irritation of the throat, leading to symptoms like hoarseness, a sore throat or difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). The last symptom can be particularly problematic if it impacts a person’s ability to eat, drink, breathe or take medications safely.

Avoiding Swallowing Symptoms After ACDF

Medical experts have been looking at ways to prevent dysphagia in patients who undergo ACDF. Even though symptoms typically only last a couple of days, they can linger for months and present risks to the patient’s health, so you’ll want to talk with your surgeon about any swallowing issues you’re dealing with before discharge or during your recovery at home. Interestingly, the Hospital for Specialty Surgery conducted a study to learn more about the risk factors for developing dysphagia after ACDF, and they found a key indicator that you should keep in mind when choosing a surgeon for your procedure.

After tracking ACDF patients for six months after their operation, researchers found a clear connection between surgical duration and the likelihood of swallowing complications after disc surgery. They found that patients whose surgery lasted less than 45 minutes had less difficulty swallowing than those with longer surgery times.

This makes sense considering that all the while the surgery is being performed, your trachea and esophagus are out of their natural position. The longer the surgery, the longer they will be irritated by the surgical tools holding them in an uncomfortable position. This extended irritation of the tissues likely contributes to more swelling and damage that makes it difficult for the swallowing mechanism to be performed correctly.

Researchers also noted that surgical duration wasn’t the only relevant factor when it came down to predicting swallowing difficulty after ACDF. Patients who had swallowing challenges prior to their operation also had an increased risk of developing dysphagia after their surgery. With that said, operating time is one of the most controllable predictive factors when it comes to swallowing after ACDF surgery. You can’t personally make the procedure go faster, but who you choose to perform the operation will influence how fast the procedure is performed.

If you’ve been told that you may need to have a cervical disc replaced or fused, it’s imperative that you connect with a skilled surgeon with decades of experience performing these types of procedures to ensure the operation can be performed correctly and swiftly. A slow and meticulous doctor may be able to align the artificial disc perfectly, but there are clear risks associated with extended operating times and anesthesia needs, so you’ll want to find a surgeon who can work with speed and precision. ACDF procedures are second nature to Dr. Sinicropi and his team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute, and he’d be happy to walk you through the procedure and explain how he’ll address your disc issue with quick, expert care.

To learn more about the ACDF procedure, or to set up a consultation to learn more about why Dr. Sincropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute may be right for your back or neck condition, give our team a call today at (651) 430-3800.

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