Two level fusion which I hear is more complicated with slower recovery times. This fusion process usually takes two to three months. Recovery . After the disc is removed, a bone graft is inserted to fuse together the bones above and below the disc space. People in this thread seam to be confused with what "levels" means. The recovery time post ACDF surgery is about 4 to 6 weeks and there is a low complication risk with this procedure. Typically patients stay in the hospital for 2-4 days after surgery and can return to work within 6-12 weeks, depending on their job requirements. Recovery from cervical fusion depends on a number of factors. Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, Two level procedures the incision is made in the front of the spine through the throat area. I barely know myself, but a fusion of c5-c7 for instance is a single level fusion. Now it’s time to focus on healing. LLIF is an acronym used for lateral lumbar interbody fusion … The activity allowed during that time will depend on the strength of the fusion. As mentioned, the surgery is considered a success when the symptoms are improved, and the bone has healed across the fused vertebrae. LLIF / XLIF Surgery Recovery Time. Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, Two Level Surgery. Overview. Anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery is done to remove damaged disk or bone spurs in your neck. Once you get down and cross from the C's (cervical) to the T's (thoracic), that's a 2 level. (it had to do with taking a large section of vertebrae out so he could get to the disc material behind C6-C7 I think) Anyway, the one way would be a longer recovery and take a lot longer to fuse where with the anterior cervical disc 2 level fusion he figured he could get everything and would be better for me to recover from. ACDF is anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, which is a minimally invasive surgery done on the neck to relieve symptoms from a degenerative disc or bulging disc in the neck. Therefore the recovery time can also vary. Read on to learn about its … You’ve had anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) surgery, a first step toward the goals of decreasing neck and/or arm pain, and stopping symptoms of spinal cord compression from getting worse. By following these tips, you will set yourself up for a successful outcome after surgery. Immediately after the ACDF surgery, patient experiences discomfort in swallowing and hoarseness …