World-renowned American professional golfer, Tiger Woods, underwent Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in 2017 to alleviate back and leg pain. According to Centinel Spine, the provider of his spinal instrumentation, the procedure was an L5/S1 lumbar vertebrae fusion using Centinel Spine’s STALIF M-Ti™ fusion implant.

The New York Times referred to the world-renowned golfer’s astounding recovery as “[Winning] the Back Surgery Lottery.” The procedure is called Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) and is the most complex surgical procedure Tiger has ever undergone.

(The New York Times Quote)

“The idea behind spinal fusion is to remove a disk — a ring of fibers filled with a nerve-cushioning jelly that joins adjacent spine bones — and fuse the spine together, a procedure that almost inevitably means trading flexibility for stability and, the patient hopes, an existence with less pain.”

ALIF is only one of five different types of lumbar interbody fusion. Compared to Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF), where the problem areas are accessed through the back, ALIF is done through the abdomen.

This technique is considered to be a complicated spinal fusion procedure but has the highest chance of success and recovery rate. Under trusted and skilled hands, Tiger Woods did not win the “back surgery lottery” with mere luck.

After six months of recovery time, Tiger was able to return to competitive golf and subsequently gain the biggest jump in the world rankings in his career.

I did a lot of research into the various spinal surgical procedures available to me and was convinced that surgery through an anterior approach represented the best option.

After I determined that the anterior approach surgery was the right option for me, I relied on my spine surgeon to direct me to the right implant solution for my back. He trusted the Centinel Spine product and the results speak for themselves. I have regained my life, and playing golf again at this level, is just an added bonus. My surgery has had a profound impact on me and my family, and I thank my surgeon and the technology provided by Centinel Spine.