What Is Lumbar Spinal Fusion and How Can It Alleviate Back Pain?

Lumbar Spinal Fusion is a surgical technique designed to reduce motion between adjacent vertebrae to alleviate pain from conditions like degenerative disc disease or spondylolisthesis. This procedure typically involves the placement of screws, rods, and cages to stabilize the spine due to instability from injury or to fix the spine in place because of pain. Part or all of the vertebral bone may be removed during surgery.

An Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) at the L5/S1 level is a common form of this surgery. It may include the intervertebral disc between the L5 vertebra and the highest vertebra of the sacral spine, S1. For lumbar degenerative disc disease, a rehabilitation protocol is recommended for patients treated with posterior transpedicular dynamic stabilization.

Spinal fusion, also known as arthrodesis, is designed to cause two or more bones to grow together into one single bone, thereby stabilizing the spine. In a Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF), a segment of the spinal disc is removed, and a spacer, often supplemented with screws and rods, is placed to join two spinal bones.

Surgeons often limit procedures like the Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) to upper and mid-lumbar levels (L1-2, L2-3, L3-4) due to the risk of injury to the sensory nerves to the legs when performed at lower levels (L4-5, L5-S1).

To understand more about these procedures, you can visit reputable medical resources:

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery

Rehabilitation Protocol for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

Spine Surgery Lumbar Interbody Fusion

When Is Back Surgery the Right Choice

TLIF Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Spine Surgery

Lumbar Spinal Fusion Guide

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)

Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)

Spinal Fusion Information