Term
| What is an anterior approach especially useful for in an ACDF? |
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Definition
| It’s specially useful for treatment of spinal stenosis at the cervical and thoracic levels. |
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Term
| What are the symptoms for cervical disc extrusion in a patient? |
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Definition
| Symptoms may be chronic or acute (due to some injury). The patient may experience stiffness, soreness and limited mobility, along with radicular symptoms. Some tenderness may occur over the brachial plexus and the normal curvaturenof the neck tends to be straightened in these patients. |
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Term
| What happens when osteophytes form in the foramen? |
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Definition
| Cervical discomfort may occur in episodes over a period of months or years before radicular symptoms become evident. |
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Term
| What are the two primary surgical treatments for cervical disc disease? |
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Definition
One of them is the Decompression of the nerve roots and/or spinal cord with a posterior cervical laminectomy and discectomy.
The second one includes a anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without the removal of the lamina. After the removal of the disc the disc space is filled with cancellous and cortical bone (fusion) that’s usually taken from the iliac crest. |
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Term
| What type of special instruments are used for an ACDF? |
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Definition
| Cloward instruments (handheld and self retaining retractors with detachable blades, vertebral spreaders, cervical drills with guards, bone dowel cutter, bone graft holder and impactor, bone curettes and rongeours) |
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Term
| What position will the patient be in in an ACDF? |
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Definition
| Supine with shoulder roll and head turned slightly away from the affected side; hip elevated for graft procurement. |
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Term
| What is the skin prep like for an ACDF? |
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Definition
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Term
| What drapes are used for an ACDF? |
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Definition
| Square draped with blue towels and covered with thyroid sheet. |
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Term
| Where is the incision made in an ACDF? |
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Definition
| The incision is made over the cervical disc space at the medial border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. |
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Term
| What are the structured retracted after the incision is made? |
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Definition
| The esophagus, carotid artery and the trachea. They are retracted medially. |
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Term
| Why are c-spine x-rays taken in an ACDF? |
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Definition
| To identify the proper level. |
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Term
| With what is the bone graft procured for an ACDF? |
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Definition
| It is procured with a hudson brace and dowel cutter or osteotome and mallet. |
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Term
| What’s next after after the bone is placed into the disc space? |
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Definition
| The vertebral spreader is removed and the bone graft is inspected for proper positioning. |
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Term
| What are the dressings used for an ACDF? |
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Definition
| The incisions are dressed with inner contact layers, 4x4 pads and an ABD for the iliac crest |
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Term
| What should the surgical technologist do after the procedure is complete? |
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Definition
| The surgical technologist should remain sterile and should not break down the back table or mayo tray until the patient has left the OR. |
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Term
| What is the wound classification of this procedure? |
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Definition
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Term
| What does ACDF stand for? |
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Definition
| anterior cervical discectomy and fusion |
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