POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS 

Single Level ACDF 

• 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 THERE ARE 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