Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion techniques: Bone graft, biologics, interbody spacers, and plating options

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a highly successful procedure for patients with a variety of cervical pathologies. While autograft bone has been the mainstay for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion since the procedure’s inception, there are a host of autograft substitutes to consider in addition to graft adjuncts and disparate fixation methods. In the present article we describe the basic principles, techniques, and latest clinical data on some of the many options available to the treating surgeon.