Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: review and update for radiologists

The goals of this article are to describe the various types of interbody grafts and anterior cervical plating systems, techniques for optimizing evaluation of cervical spine metallic implants on CT and MR imaging, expected appearance and complications of ACDF on postoperative imaging and imaging assessment of fusion. Optimization for optimizing metal induced artifacts.

Currently, ACDF is the most commonly performed surgical procedure for degenerative cervical spine disease. Interbody fusion is performed with bone grafts or interbody spacers, and may be supplemented with anterior cervical plating. Compressive pathologies at the vertebral body level may be addressed by simultaneous corpectomy. Postoperatively, imaging plays an integral role in routine screening of asymptomatic individuals, fusion assessment and evaluation of complications.