Last week we wrote about minimally invasive lumbar fusion surgery and mentioned there are many different ways to perform this kind of procedure. Well, for this week’s blog, we’re covering one of the many lumbar fusion methods: an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine performs this procedure pretty frequently and may recommend it for patients that do not have a lot of spinal instability, spinal stenosis or nerve compression on the back of the spine. Other than that, patients with degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis are generally considered candidates for this procedure.
What is ALIF Surgery?
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery requires the surgeon to approach the spine through the patient’s abdomen instead of through their back. This procedure typically calls for a 3 to 5 inch incision on the left side of the abdomen, retraction of abdominal muscles and blood vessels, removal of the damaged disc material to make room for the bone graft, and the insertion of said bone graft. Once the bone graft is inserted, the surgeon will close the incision and send the patient to recovery. This type of surgery may accompany a posterolateral fusion if additional stability is needed.
Benefits and Risks of ALIF Surgery
There are some benefits of ALIF surgery over other fusion methods. The ALIF approach allows surgeons to place the bone graft in the front of the spine, which helps the graft and vertebrae fuse better. Moreover, this approach keeps the back muscles and nerves in tact and allows the surgeon to insert a larger bone graft for greater spinal stability. According to spine-health.com, ALIF successful fusion rates are roughly 90 to 95 percent. However, with any surgical procedure, ALIF surgery does carry certain risks. There is a chance a “nonunion” of the bone graft and the vertebrae may take place. This risk is relatively rare though, considering the rate this occurs is roughly 1 to 3 percent. Talk to Dr. Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine if you’re a smoker, are obese, had a prior back surgery or have undergone radiation for cancer treatment, because these factors may pose a higher risk for complication.
Recovery from ALIF Surgery
Patients who undergo ALIF surgery may need 3 to 6 weeks for full recovery. However, the recovery period is different for everybody and some patients may require more or less time to heal. Patients may also need a brace and/or physical therapy following the procedure. Dr. Giovanini will determine recovery time and the best ways to heal from surgery if ALIF is considered right for you.
For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit http://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.
We hope to see you soon!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
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