Neck or arm symptoms?
Understand your options.
Review your neck symptoms, imaging and prior treatment to understand whether nonsurgical care, ACDF or another cervical treatment is appropriate.
Request a Cervical Evaluation (Form)Telehealth or in person. Your request does not confirm an appointment.
A careful review before a surgical decision.
Cervical spine surgery may relieve pressure and stabilize the spine when appropriate. Your diagnosis, examination, imaging and response to prior care guide the discussion of surgical and nonsurgical options.
Bring your imaging
Bring available cervical MRI, CT, X-rays and prior operative reports.
Discuss the alternatives
Review previous care, nonsurgical options, expected benefits, limitations and risks.
Choose the appropriate next step
Surgery is discussed when symptoms, examination and imaging support it. No outcome is guaranteed.
Experience & careful judgment
Meet Dr. Cornacchia.
Louis G. Cornacchia III, M.D., FAANS, FACS
A board-certified neurosurgeon with 30 years of spinal cord stimulation experience.
More about Dr. Cornacchia’s experience and SCS device decisions
Spinal cord stimulation experience
Experienced neurosurgical judgment before device decisions.
A spinal cord stimulator is a medical device decision, but it is also a diagnosis decision. Apteum’s evaluation is designed to clarify whether SCS is reasonable, whether another spine problem needs attention, and what goals should define success for you.
He works with a community of experienced pain-management doctors and with Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and other manufacturers.
Manufacturer relationships do not imply endorsement of a specific device for every patient. Brand and system selection should be based on clinical need, anatomy, MRI considerations, programming goals, prior device history, and shared decision-making.
Additional systems as clinically appropriateYour evaluation reviews neck symptoms, imaging and prior treatment to help you understand whether nonsurgical care, ACDF or another cervical procedure is appropriate.
Your evaluation focuses on your diagnosis, prior care and goals. Discuss the expected benefits, limitations, risks and alternatives before choosing your next step. An evaluation is not a commitment to surgery or an implant.
Read Dr. Cornacchia’s training and experience →How spinal cord stimulation works
Watch this explanation created by Dr. Cornacchia. Spinal cord stimulation is one option for selected patients after evaluation; it is not appropriate for every cause of pain and does not replace the discussion of the treatment on this page.
Cervical Surgery
ACDF & Cervical Spine Evaluation
Neck or arm symptoms? Discuss whether ACDF or another treatment is appropriate for you.
Your Evaluation at Apteum Spine
Louis G. Cornacchia III, M.D., FAANS, FACS, a board-certified neurosurgeon, evaluates neck conditions and discusses ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) when appropriate. The visit reviews your symptoms, imaging, and prior treatment so you can understand surgical and nonsurgical options. Request an evaluation for a personalized recommendation; surgery is not the right choice for everyone.
What We Offer
Dr. Cornacchia’s Experience
All Services
Need Help?
Request a cervical evaluation. Bring available neck imaging, reports, and details of your symptoms and prior treatment.
Cervical (Neck) Spine Surgery
The cervical spine — the neck — protects the spinal cord and nerves that control the arms and much of the body. When neck conditions cause persistent pain, arm symptoms, or nerve compression that hasn’t responded to conservative care, cervical spine surgery can relieve pressure and stabilize the spine. At Apteum Spine, these procedures are recommended only when truly necessary, using minimally invasive techniques where appropriate.
Conditions Treated
• Cervical herniated disc
• Cervical spinal stenosis and myelopathy
• Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve causing arm pain)
• Degenerative disc disease and spondylosis
Understanding ACDF and Your Options
What is ACDF? Through an approach from the front of the neck, the surgeon removes a problematic disc to relieve nerve pressure and stabilizes the treated level with fusion.
Is ACDF right for me? Your diagnosis, examination, imaging, and response to prior care guide that decision. Alternatives may include nonsurgical care, disc replacement, or posterior decompression.
Before deciding: Discuss expected benefits, risks, recovery, and whether a neck brace may be needed for your specific procedure.
Request an ACDF evaluation (Form) or call (609) 831-0998.
When to Seek Care
Seek evaluation for arm weakness or numbness, neck pain after trauma, or symptoms that persist despite therapy. Seek emergency care for problems with balance, coordination, or bladder/bowel control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cervical disc replacement better than fusion?
For select patients, disc replacement preserves motion; for others, fusion is more appropriate. The right choice depends on your anatomy and diagnosis.
Will I need a neck brace afterward?
It depends on the procedure; we’ll explain recovery expectations specific to your surgery.
Physician: Louis G. Cornacchia III, M.D., FAANS, FACS — board-certified neurosurgeon. Content updated: October 12, 2026. This page is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. For urgent symptoms, call (609) 831-0998 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Understand the next step for your neck symptoms.
Request an evaluation to review your symptoms, imaging, goals and prior treatment history.
The team will contact you to discuss your request. No outcome is guaranteed.