Single Level ACDF

Postoperative Instructions

Helpful Hints & Important Precautions for Patients

• You will have a hard collar to wear after surgery. Wear this at all times except for eating and showering.
• You will be discharged the day after or the day of surgery. Plan to have someone drive you home.
• A prescription for pain medications will be given to you. If you need a refill, please call our office.
• It will be determined at your follow-up visits when you are allowed to resume driving. You may ride in a car, but do not ride for more than one hour continuously without getting out and walking for the first month. If you need a temporary handicap parking permit, one can be arranged for you.
• Change the dressing as needed. Please check your dressing daily for any drainage. We recommend a waterproof dressing especially while showering. Keep the incision/incisions clean, dry and covered.
• After the dressing is removed at your follow-up appointment, you may shower without the dressing on. Pat the area dry. Do not submerge your incision in water such as hot tubs, bathtubs, pools, etc. for 6 weeks.
• Do not take ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve or other NSAIDs because these medications affect your fusion. Do not lift anything greater than 5lbs.
• Be sure to get up and take short walks 4 times per day to help avoid developing a blood clot in your legs.
• Be sure to maintain a healthy bowel regimen while on pain medications. Opioids tend to cause constipation. Use stool softeners and gentle laxatives to maintain regular bowel habits.
• Call the office to report any fever >101.5, progressively worsening pain that is not controlled with oral pain medications, drainage from your incision, new bowel/bladder incontinence.  

If you have any questions, please call the office for further instructions: (757) 827-2480 extension 365 from 8am until 5pm Monday through Friday. After hours or on weekends for urgent matters: (757) 220-4493.