| TLIF
Transforaminal Lumbar
Interbody Fusion
What
is it?
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) is an operation where
the lumbar spine is approached from the side through an incision in
the back. A portion of bone and disc are removed from the spine and
replaced with an implant that is inserted into the disc space. Titanium
or stainless steel screws and rods are inserted into the spine to ensure
the stability of the entire construct.
Why
is it done?
Patients who are suffering from back and/or leg pain are potential candidates
for the TLIF procedure. The causes of the pain may range from a natural
degeneration of the disc space to some type of traumatic event.
The Operation
The operation is performed with the patient laying on his or her stomach.
Incision
An incision is made in the patient's back to allow the surgeon access
to the spine. The surgeon separates the muscle and tissue to be able
to have a clear view of the spine.
Bone is Removed
Once the spine is in view, the surgeon will remove a portion of bone
from the appropriate areas of the spine to allow the surgeon to access
the disc space.
Disc is Removed
The surgeon will remove the disc material to allow the surgeon to
insert an implant into the disc space.
Implants
are Inserted
The surgeon will also insert titanium or stainless steel implants into
the spine. The implant and the screws will help to restore the spine
back to its normal anatomic condition.
After
surgery
After the surgery, the patient will normally stay in the hospital between
3-5 days. The specific time of stay in the hospital will depend on the
patient and the surgeon's specific post-operative surgical plan. The
patient will normally be up and walking in the hospital by the end of
the first day after the surgery. Your surgeon will have a specific post-operative
recovery / exercise plan to help you return to normal life as soon as
possible.
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