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• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is open-back surgery used to alleviate the symptoms associated with impinged or irritated nerve tissue in the lower (lumbar) back. From an entry point in the back (posterior), the affected vertebrae are permanently connected, or fused, using a bone graft in order to mitigate the instability caused by a spinal condition such as degenerative disc disease.

Potential complications of posterior lumbar interbody fusion include a failure of the bone graft to integrate itself (nonunion). The risk of nonunion is increased for patients who smoke, have diabetes, are overweight, have received radiation treatment in the lower back, or have undergone a previous back operation.

Patients who undergo this type of lumbar fusion can expect the following:

• A 3- to 6-inch incision is made along the lower back, usually parallel with the lumbar spine
• The laminae, the spinous process, and a portion of the facet joints are removed from the vertebra to allow access to the intervertebral disc
• The damaged or diseased portion of the disc is removed (called a discectomy), but a section of the fibrous disc wall is left intact to aid in bone graft containment
• Bone grafts are inserted into the area vacated by the disc; morselized or granular bone might be added to fill the area
• Metal screws are attached to the pedicles of the adjacent vertebrae, and rods are inserted through the screws to hold the vertebrae in place
• The bone graft grows over time, forming a bridge or fusion between the vertebrae

Other types of lumbar fusion involve surgical entry from the abdomen (anterior lumbar interbody fusion) and from the side of the body (lateral lumbar interbody fusion).

Complete recovery from posterior lumbar interbody fusion or any other type of spinal fusion can take a year or more. Many patients considering PLIF might be candidates for the minimally invasive, outpatient procedures performed at Laser Spine Institute (LSI). The award-winning surgeons at LSI use gentle, endoscopic techniques that require far less recovery time and leave far less scar tissue than traditional open back surgery. Contact LSI for a free review of your MRI or CT scan and to learn how to rediscover a life without pain.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.