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| 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. |
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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. |
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The Operation The operation is performed with the patient laying on his or her stomach. |
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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. |
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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 |
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Disc is Removed The surgeon will remove the disc material to allow the surgeon to insert an implant into the disc space. |
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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. |
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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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