Lumbar Interbody Fusion Benefits
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Do you want to know about the lumbar interbody fusion benefits? The disc and facet joint is a common degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. This condition affects more the elderly and the aging population.
The degenerative disc disease is the frequent cause of disability. It is important to know that lumbar spondylosis can result in radicular symptoms, mechanical back pain, decreased mobility – all of these can affect your quality of life.
Lumbar interbody fusion surgery for degenerative levels is a sophisticated treatment option, which allows the individual to stabilize the motion segment and provide decompression indirectly of the neural elements to restore lordosis and fix the issue of deformity.
When it comes to the surgical options for the lumbar interbody fusion, they are anterior lumbar interbody, posterior lumbar interbody, and oblique lumbar interbody, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion or ALIF is a surgical technique for the spine, which involves approaching the spinal area from the body front to remove bone material or disc from in between the two adjacent lumbar vertebrae. The surgeon performs this procedure as an open surgery or minimally invasive surgery.
When it comes to the advantages of ALIF, first, you need to understand that fusion takes away flexibility in the spine. So, the surgeon uses a larger spacer device, which provides support and fusion.
The path or approach to the spine is from the front side, which leads to less disruption of muscles in the back. The patient does not suffer from a lot of pain.
Posterior lumbar interbody fusion
The Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion or PLIF is all about adding bone graft to the spinal area. The purpose is setting up a biological response, which leads to the growth of the bone between the two vertebrae and stopping the motion at this segment. The posterior approach does not allow the surgeon to remove as much of the disc space.
So, instead of this approach, Plano lumbar interbody fusion experts at the Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas recommend an anterior approach, which is the evacuation of the patient’s disc space leading to improved and increase surface area for fusion.
Oblique lumbar interbody fusion
Oblique lumbar interbody fusion, also known as OLIF, is a minimally invasive surgery method or procedure, which involves intervertebral disc removal that has been damaged. This surgery procedure allows the fusion of two adjacent spinal vertebrae.
Besides, OLIF is a minimally invasive technique to the fusion of the spine, which involves the neurosurgeons to access and repair the lower spine from the front/side of your body. They pass in a trajectory in the middle of the stomach and side of your body.
Spinal surgeries are invasive and can lead to the loss of back strength. It is because the major muscles in the back area need cutting to reach the central spine.
On the other hand, OLIF is a minimally invasive surgery, which allows the surgeon to approach the problem area without incising the major muscles and preserving the strength of the body.
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
This minimally invasive method, also called TLIF, is a modern technique, which involves approaching the lower back to remove the intervertebral disc. The purpose of TLIF is to join multiple vertebrae together using a cage and screws.
You need TLIF surgery if the disc prolapse causes pressure on the roots of the nerve due to previous surgery or back pain arising from the disc. If you have any spinal instability, the TLIF can fix it.
Open surgery for removing the disc can take never pressure and lead to instability. You also need TLIF surgery if you have lateral recess stenosis, which can cause back pain and spinal instability.
TLIF is a Plano Lumbar Interbody Fusion surgery method that improves fusion and maximizes spinal stability. Through TLIF, it is easy to preserve the posterior elements and reduce spinal destabilization.
TLIF also facilitates less nerve retraction, reduce scarring, as well as preserve the bone surface for fusion. Similarly, it allows for better access to neuroforamen, which is nerve passageway. TLIF can reduce the manipulation of spinal nerve roots.
Moreover, TLIF allows for avoiding nerve injury, which occurs during retraction – i.e., moving nerves with the field of surgery. Compared to PLIF, which can lead to this type of injury, the TLIF can fix this problem, and this is one of the most profound lumbar interbody fusion benefits.
Conclusion
Lumbar interbody fusion involves the removal of an intervertebral disk. To reduce complications, surgeons at the Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas uses the aforementioned approaches depending on the intensity and condition of the patient. As mentioned above, to get the most out of Lumbar Interbody Fusion Benefits, contact us today for minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion surgery.
