April 2021 Newsletter

WHAT IS ANTERIOR LUMBAR SPINE FUSION (ALIF)?

During anterior lumbar interbody fusion, an incision is made in the front of the belly. A general or vascular surgeon and spine surgeon work as a team. The general/vascular surgeon clears a path to the spine, moving aside the vessels to the legs and internal organs. The spine surgeon removes the damaged and/ or unstable disc and fills the space between the bones with a spacer bone graft. The spacer restores the height between the bones, corrects the spinal curvature, and relieves pinched nerves. The graft becomes a bridge between the two bones to promote fusion. In some cases, the graft is strengthened with a metal plate and screws.

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