Spinal fusion is a commonly performed surgical technique for the treatment of severe spinal injuries and those that do not respond to conventional treatment methods. The goal of spinal fusion is to limit/restrict the movement of the affected portion of the spine by fusing vertebrae, and this is done via surgery.
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Different types of spinal fusion techniques are there, and the feasible one is chosen by the surgeon after performing certain tests. One of the techniques that we are going to discuss in the post is posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). This type of surgery is mostly performed for the treatment of degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis.
Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) – A Brief Introduction
PLIF aims at achieving spinal fusion at the lower back by placing a cage in the disc space. The cage used can be made up of an allograft bone or a metal like titanium. The cage made of polyetheretherketone may also be used. During this technique, the spine is approached through the back. Sometimes, posterolateral spine fusion surgery may also be performed simultaneously with PLIF.
To access the spine, a 3 to 6 inches long incision is made at the midline of the back. Now, the surgeon will remove the lower back muscles of the lamina from both sides. After this, laminectomy is performed to visualize nerve roots, and they are then retracted aside, and disc space is cleaned.
Types of Spinal Fusion Surgeries that Adopt Posterior Approach
Two types of spinal fusion techniques are there that use the posterior approach. Let us see which these procedures are and how they are performed:
Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
This is what we’ve discussed above where the spine is approached through the midline of the back. In this technique, two graft spacers are placed with gentle retraction of spinal nerves and neurologic structures. One spacer on each side of the interbody space is applied.
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
In this newer technique, only one graft spacer is used and is placed in the middle of the interbody space. This procedure is not known to require retraction of spinal nerves.
Post-Operative Care After PLIF
After the surgery, the patients are usually required to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days. During that period, the healthcare provider guides the patient on how to walk, move out of the bed, and do exercise in order to ensure a speedy recovery. Some of the instructions that need to be strictly followed include:
Bending
Lifting heavyweight
Twisting of the waist
These instructions need to be followed for at least 4 to 6 weeks. In that period, the muscles become stronger, and healing starts to occur. Sometimes, the use of a brace may be suggested to keep the spine stable and avoid any complications.
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