- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
Surgical Interventions
Surgical Interventions
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Surgical Interventions
Posterior Fusion: Most low back spinal fusions are performed using a
posterior approach from the back. This requires that the surgeon
remove part of the bone from two adjacent vertebrae. The surgeon then
removes some bone from the patient’s hip region (iliac crest) and
places it between adjacent vertebrae with the hope that the vertebra
will fuse together. The surgeon may also place reinforcing
instrumentation such as rods or screws into the same level in an
attempt to further stabilize the spine during bone remodeling and
fusion.
The Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF): requires that bone be removed from the back (posterior) portion of the spinal canal. This provides more room for spine content and also provides an operating window for the surgeon to work through. The surgeon then removes disc material from between two vertebrae and will follow with insertion of a bone graft in the disc space. The surgeon may also use supplemental hardware to fuse the bones tighter. This approach is referred to as an interbody fusion because the graft is placed between two vertebral bodies using a posterior approach. This approach is usually done on each side of the spine.
Anterior Fusion: To perform an anterior vertebral fusion in the low back the surgeon must make an incision near the belly button in order to access the front of the spine through the abdomen. The surgeon will most likely use a fixation device referred to as a cage. Surgical removal of the disc is required followed by placement of the cage between two adjacent vertebrae. This is a very complex procedure and usually requires a team of surgical specialists. It is not uncommon for the spine surgeon to be assisted by a general surgeon or a vascular surgeon because of the challenges associated with approaching the spine through the abdomen.
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF): An anterior fusion in the low back is approached through the lower abdomen. The degenerative or compromised disc is removed through the abdominal approach. A bone graft or a metal device filled with bone material is then placed into the intervertebral disc space.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): The involved level of the spine is approached through the front of the spine through an incision
in the neck. Disc material is removed through the surgical window. A piece of bone (bone graft) is placed into the disc space. The attending spine surgeon may also utilize instrumentation such as a metal plate to help stabilize the spinal segment and to help hold the bone graft in place so that it can fuse with the two adjacent vertebral bodies.
The Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF): requires that bone be removed from the back (posterior) portion of the spinal canal. This provides more room for spine content and also provides an operating window for the surgeon to work through. The surgeon then removes disc material from between two vertebrae and will follow with insertion of a bone graft in the disc space. The surgeon may also use supplemental hardware to fuse the bones tighter. This approach is referred to as an interbody fusion because the graft is placed between two vertebral bodies using a posterior approach. This approach is usually done on each side of the spine.
Anterior Fusion: To perform an anterior vertebral fusion in the low back the surgeon must make an incision near the belly button in order to access the front of the spine through the abdomen. The surgeon will most likely use a fixation device referred to as a cage. Surgical removal of the disc is required followed by placement of the cage between two adjacent vertebrae. This is a very complex procedure and usually requires a team of surgical specialists. It is not uncommon for the spine surgeon to be assisted by a general surgeon or a vascular surgeon because of the challenges associated with approaching the spine through the abdomen.
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF): An anterior fusion in the low back is approached through the lower abdomen. The degenerative or compromised disc is removed through the abdominal approach. A bone graft or a metal device filled with bone material is then placed into the intervertebral disc space.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): The involved level of the spine is approached through the front of the spine through an incision
in the neck. Disc material is removed through the surgical window. A piece of bone (bone graft) is placed into the disc space. The attending spine surgeon may also utilize instrumentation such as a metal plate to help stabilize the spinal segment and to help hold the bone graft in place so that it can fuse with the two adjacent vertebral bodies.
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