- This is a surgery done from the front of the neck to remove a herniated or a diseased disc that is pinching the nerves or the spinal cord in the cervical spine. The procedure is similar to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, but instead of fusing the disc and eliminating all movement between the bones, an implant is placed in the disc that allows for movement. This motion-preserving surgery is intended to hasten postoperative recovery and reduce stresses on the adjacent levels.