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Anterior cervical discectomy is a surgical procedure that removes herniated or bulging cervical discs that compress nerve roots or the spinal cord, causing neck pain, arm pain, numbness, weakness, and other neurological symptoms. The procedure is performed through a small incision at the front of the neck, allowing Dr. Wascher to remove the damaged disc material and any associated bone spurs without disturbing the neck muscles. Dr. Thomas M. Wascher has performed 2,700+ anterior cervical fusions over 33+ years with a permanent complication rate of 0.69%, more than eleven times better than the medical literature rate of 7.7%.
After disc removal, the space is filled with a bone graft or titanium cage to maintain proper spinal height and promote fusion between the adjacent vertebrae. A metal plate secured with screws provides immediate stability while the bone heals into a solid mass. This fusion eliminates painful motion at the treated level while preserving overall neck function. The procedure is commonly referred to as ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion) and is considered the gold standard treatment for cervical disc herniation that has not responded to conservative care.
Permanent Complication Rate:
Dr. Wascher: 0.69%
Medical Literature: ≥7.7%
11X SAFER than national averages
2,700+ Anterior Cervical Fusions
33+ Years of Data
(September 1992 - December 2025)
99.9% of patients report improvement
Vanessa: 3-Level Anterior Cervical Fusion
Years of chronic neck pain eliminated
Comprehensive evaluation and nerve testing
Successful multilevel discectomy and fusion
Complete pain relief and return to work
Anterior cervical discectomy is recommended when a herniated or bulging cervical disc causes persistent symptoms that do not improve with conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, and injections. Common conditions that may require discectomy include:
Cervical Disc Herniation: When the soft inner material of a cervical disc ruptures through the outer ring and presses on nerve roots or the spinal cord, discectomy removes the herniated material to eliminate compression. This relieves sharp, shooting arm pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness that radiates from the neck down the shoulder and into the hand.
Cervical Radiculopathy from Disc Herniation: When a herniated disc compresses a specific nerve root as it exits the spinal column, discectomy removes the disc material and any bone spurs that contribute to nerve compression. This relieves the characteristic pattern of arm pain, numbness, and weakness that follows the distribution of the affected nerve.
Soft Disc Herniation with Myelopathy: When a large central disc herniation compresses the spinal cord and causes hand clumsiness, gait difficulty, balance problems, and progressive loss of fine motor control, discectomy prevents further neurological deterioration and allows the spinal cord to recover.
Degenerative Disc Disease with Disc Collapse: When chronic disc degeneration leads to disc height loss, bulging disc material, and nerve compression that causes persistent neck pain and arm symptoms, discectomy removes the diseased disc and restores proper spinal alignment with fusion.
Failed Conservative Treatment: When six to twelve weeks of conservative treatment including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and epidural steroid injections fail to provide adequate relief, discectomy offers a definitive surgical solution.
Dr. Wascher evaluates each patient with advanced imaging (MRI, CT scans) and a thorough neurological examination to confirm that disc herniation is the primary source of symptoms before recommending discectomy.
Anterior cervical discectomy is performed through a horizontal incision at the front of the neck, typically placed in a natural skin crease for minimal visible scarring. Dr. Wascher accesses the cervical spine by gently moving the trachea, esophagus, and carotid artery aside without cutting through neck muscles. This muscle-sparing approach reduces postoperative pain and promotes faster recovery.
Using high-powered microscopic magnification, Dr. Wascher removes the entire damaged disc including any herniated fragments that compress the nerve roots or spinal cord. Bone spurs on the adjacent vertebrae are carefully removed to create complete neural decompression. The foramen (the opening where nerve roots exit) may be enlarged to ensure adequate space for the nerve to exit without compression.
Once discectomy is complete, a structural bone graft or titanium cage packed with bone-growth material is inserted into the disc space. This maintains proper spinal height and promotes solid fusion between the vertebrae. A titanium plate is secured with screws across the treated levels to provide immediate stability during the healing process. The plate prevents graft displacement and enhances fusion success rates.
The entire procedure is performed under general anesthesia with intraoperative neuromonitoring to continuously assess spinal cord and nerve root function. Single-level and two-level discectomies are routinely performed outpatient, while three-level and four-level procedures may require a brief overnight stay.
Most patients experience immediate relief of arm pain as nerve compression is eliminated. Numbness and tingling may take several weeks to resolve as nerves recover. Weakness improves gradually over weeks to months as muscle strength returns. Patients typically wear a cervical collar during the initial healing phase to protect the fusion.
Physical therapy begins once the collar period ends, focusing on restoring neck strength, range of motion, and proper posture. Return to work and daily activities varies based on the extent of surgery and the physical demands of the patient's occupation. Dr. Wascher's microscopic technique results in smaller incisions, less tissue trauma, and reduced postoperative discomfort, with over 80% of procedures performed outpatient.
Fusion success rates are excellent with modern surgical techniques and materials. Follow-up imaging confirms solid bone healing and adequate neural decompression. Patients achieve stable, pain-free necks with the elimination of arm pain, numbness, and weakness. While fusion eliminates motion at the treated level, most patients maintain good overall neck mobility and return to normal activities without restriction.
Vanessa had years of neck pain leaving her unable to even do her daily work. But with Dr. Wascher’s quick and timely intervention that included multiple viewings of MRIs, muscle and nerve tests, followed by a 3-Level Anterior Cervical Fusion, she is now happy without any neck issues. “I can happily say that by following the recommendations of Dr. Wascher, I am now pain-free,” says Vanessa as she talks about how great Dr. Wascher and his team were to work with.
When Nanette experienced deep pain in her shoulder, she got tests performed, only to discover that she, in fact, had issues with her neck instead. After a few MRIs and scans, she contacted Dr. Wascher, who told her that she has bone spurs going into the spinal cord. Within a span of 3 weeks, she was able to go through surgery and get on the road to recovery. “I cannot say enough about Dr. Wascher’s expertise and empathy”, says Nanette as she joins an ever-growing community of people who, through Dr. Wascher and his team, have found happiness again.
Dr. Thomas M. Wascher is one of the few cervical spine specialists in the country who focuses exclusively on the cervical spine, bringing unmatched expertise to anterior cervical discectomy procedures. With 2,700+ anterior cervical fusions performed over 33+ years, he has achieved a permanent complication rate of 0.69%, more than eleven times better than the published medical literature rate of 7.7%. Dr. Wascher was valedictorian of his high school, college, and medical school classes and has been named to America's Top Surgeons since 2007 and Best Doctors in America since 2000.
Patients travel to Appleton from across the country and internationally for Dr. Wascher's expertise in complex cervical spine conditions. His philosophy is simple: treat every patient as a family member with a unique approach tailored to their specific condition and goals. His microscopic surgical technique minimizes tissue disruption, reduces scarring, and accelerates recovery.
Anterior cervical discectomy refers specifically to removing the herniated or damaged disc, while decompression refers to the broader goal of relieving pressure on nerves and the spinal cord. In practice, discectomy is the primary technique used to achieve decompression when disc herniation is the compression source. The terms are often used interchangeably, and the full procedure name is ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion).
Removing the disc creates an empty space between the vertebrae that would collapse without structural support. Fusion restores proper spinal height, prevents abnormal motion, and eliminates the pain generator. A bone graft or titanium cage promotes solid fusion between the adjacent vertebrae, creating a stable, pain-free segment. Fusion success rates exceed 95% with modern surgical techniques and instrumentation.
Yes, Dr. Wascher routinely performs multilevel anterior cervical discectomy for patients with herniated discs at multiple spinal levels. Single-level and two-level discectomies are commonly performed outpatient, while three-level and four-level procedures provide comprehensive treatment for patients with multilevel disc disease. The anterior approach allows excellent visualization and safe treatment of multiple levels through a single incision.