I had a cervical fusion with mixed results -- in retrospect, had I known then (almost 20 years ago) what I know now, I'd have advocated for them to use hardware (plate/screw), because the bone alone which they inserted did not heal into the right shape (it either was not inserted correctly or it turned somehow), and left me with a new set of problems that has caused me to need further surgeries that are only palliative in nature. No doubt your surgical team will be using better methods now, 2 decades later than when I had it done, but I would say this: do not be shy about taking up however much of their time as you feel you need understanding exactly what they'll be doing and exactly how they expect their methods to succeed.

I was in a brace and out of commission for what was about 3 months following in my case. For me the worst part of that, logistically, was having to get help bathing. I was theretofore unaccustomed to feeling quite so vulnerable in my adult life.

Had I gotten the plate and screw I don't think that the time in the brace would have been nearly so extensive; it was to keep the neck still so that movement didn't interrupt and alter the fusion process, whereas installed hardware does this on its own and more precisely.

Oh and one other thing.. don't let a rookie nurse try to take your stitches out. Nuff said.