Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) surgery is a type of spinal surgery used to treat various conditions affecting the lumbar spine, such as degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis. The procedure involves removing a damaged disc in the lower back and fusing the adjacent vertebrae to stabilize the spine and relieve pain.
Overview of ALIF Surgery
Approach:
The surgery is performed through an incision in the abdomen (anterior approach), rather than through the back. This allows direct access to the lumbar spine without disturbing the back muscles.
Disc Removal:
The damaged or degenerated disc is removed. This creates space between the vertebrae and alleviates pressure on the spinal nerves.
Interbody Fusion:
An interbody spacer (often made of metal or a composite material) is placed in the space where the disc was removed. This spacer may be filled with bone graft material to promote fusion between the vertebrae.
Bone Grafting:
The bone graft material encourages the vertebrae to fuse together over time, providing long-term stability and support to the spine.
Fixation:
In some cases, additional instrumentation such as plates or screws may be used to further stabilize the spine during the fusion process.