These procedures formerly involved external immobilization of the patient’s neck, however recent advances in the materials used to complement the fusion have made this mostly unnecessary. Still, a soft collar, and in rare instances a hard collar (also known as an Aspen or Miami J collar) will likely be part of your recovery.
Soft collars are used primarily for comfort, as they don’t provide rigid support. Soft cervical collars are typically worn between 2-4 weeks after surgery. The prescribed amount of time you will be wearing the collar will vary depending on the particulars of your situation and the varying factors that are taken into consideration.