Lateral Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, abbreviated Lateral ALIF, is a type of lumbar spine surgery to fuse two or more bones to reduce pain and fix their alignment. The procedure involves approaching the lumbar spine through the psoas muscles located on each side of the lower back. The muscles attach to the spine just below the rib cage and pelvis/hip area.
Lateral ALIF procedure
An incision is made in the patient’s side. The psoas muscles are not cut but separated along the lines of the muscle’s fibers to gain access to the front portion of the vertebral body, which usually includes 33 vertebrae. Soft tissues are gently pulled aside and held back using retractors.
Using intra-operative image guidance, a discectomy is performed, and one or two interbody devices (such as cages) are filled with bone graft and implanted in the empty disc space. More bone graft is packed around the interbody device.
A metal plate may be placed over the interbody device and bone graft to provide spinal stability. The plate is affixed to the vertebral bodies using special screws. Further, the plate holds the bone graft in place. Lateral ALIF is often combined with posterior fusion (performed from the back of the spine) using pedicle screws. Posterior fusion provides additional spinal support and stability.
Potential benefits
Lateral ALIF does not require moving any major organs or blood vessels.
Specialized equipment, including neurological monitoring, helps the surgeon know if instrumentation gets too close to nerves in the psoas muscle.
Possible risks and complications
Lateral ALIF is a new technique that requires special surgeon training.
Make informed decisions
Spine surgery is an important decision. While the final decision is yours, the benefits, potential risks and complications require careful consideration. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you to resolve your concerns about any treatment offered by Piedmont Spine Center.