Spine Surgery at Saint Joseph East

What is Lateral Access Surgery?

The XLIF^® (eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion) procedure is a minimally disruptive surgical technique in which the surgeon approaches the spine from the side of the patient’s body, rather than the front or back as in traditional spine surgeries. This side (lateral) approach can reduce the risk of injury to muscles, nerves and blood vessels.

The XLIF technique can provide relief to patients who cannot tolerate traditional open back surgery due to increased risks of longer anesthesia time, greater blood loss, longer hospitalization, and slower recovery. XLIF surgery is a less disruptive alternative for patients who have lived with back or leg pain through years of various failed treatments, including steroid injections, physical therapy, and pain medication.

The XLIF procedure includes the use of NVM5^®, an innovative nerve monitoring system. NVM5 provides surgeons with real-time feedback about relative nerve health, location, and function during surgery, thus reducing the incidence of nerve injury.

More than 140 published clinical studies document excellent clinical outcomes following XLIF surgery. For many patients, benefits include:

• Reduced blood loss1-4
• Reduced hospital stay1-5
• Faster return to normal activity5,7

What Can You Expect During XLIF Surgery?

When performing XLIF surgery, your surgeon will approach your spine from the side of your body. You will be positioned on your side on the surgical table. After you have been positioned, an x-ray will be taken to help your doctor precisely locate the operative space. Next, your skin will be marked at the site where the two small incisions will be made. One of the incisions will be on your side—this is the incision from which most of the surgery will be performed. Another incision will be made slightly behind the first, toward your back. Your surgeon will use the latest instrumentation to access the spine in a minimally disruptive manner.

Disc preparation is the next step. This is done by removing the disc tissue, an action that allows the bones to fuse together. Several x-rays will be taken during this stage to determine that the preparation is adequate. Once the disc is prepared, the surgeon will then place a stabilizing implant into the space to restore the disc height and help the spine to once again support necessary loads. Once in position, a final x-ray will be taken to confirm correct implant placement.

Because further spinal stabilization is necessary, the surgeon will insert additional screws, rods, or plates into the vertebrae.

How Does XLIF Compare to Other Procedures?

Due to advances in medical technology, patients suffering from pain due to degenerative spine conditions now have more options than ever before. Each option has its own set of risks and benefits. Your physician may first attempt to address your problem non-surgically. However, if that does not relieve your pain, he or she might suggest surgery.

Once your physician has recommended spine surgery, the next step is deciding which surgical procedure is appropriate for you. Generally speaking, each procedure is defined by the “approach,” or the way in which the surgeon accesses the spine.

Traditional approaches

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF). In this procedure, the spine is approached from the front of the body. This approach spares the back from trauma but requires delicate manipulation of the major blood vessels in front of the spine.

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF). This procedure is performed through the middle back, which allows direct access to the area being treated. The downside is that this approach also requires significant disruption to the muscles, bones, and ligaments of the back, which can lead to pain and desensitization after surgery.

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF). This approach is similar to PLIF; the difference is that only one side of the back is accessed and affected. Like PLIF, significant disruption to the muscles, bones, and ligaments of the back can occur, although these are limited to one side of the back.

Traditionally, both the PLIF and TLIF approaches require significant muscle, bone, and ligament dissection and/or disruption, which can sometimes lead to pain and desensitization of the back muscles after surgery.

Is XLIF Right for You?

Once your physician has concluded that spine surgery is appropriate for you, the best approach for your condition will then be recommended. Some candidates for the XLIF procedure include patients with the following:

• Degenerated discs and/or facet joints that cause unnatural motion and pain
• Slippage of one vertebra over another (degenerative spondylolisthesis resulting from advanced degenerative disc disease)
• Change in the normal curvature of the spine (degenerative scoliosis resulting from advanced degenerative disc disease)

Despite its advantages, your physician may decide that the XLIF procedure is not the most appropriate approach for you. The XLIF procedure is not recommended for patients with the following:

• Symptoms in the L5-S1 level of the spine
• Certain lumbar deformities
• Severe degenerative spondylolisthesis (significant slip of one vertebra over another)
• Internal abdominal scarring on both left and right sides due to abscess or prior surgery

This procedure is performed at Saint Joseph East. If you are looking for an orthopedic doctor, please call 844.303.WELL (9355) or visit our Provider Directory.

The materials on this website are for your general educational information only. Information you read on this website cannot replace the relationship that you have with your health care professional. You should always talk to your health care professional for diagnosis and treatment.

References:  1) Oliveira L, et al. WscJ 2010;1:19-25; 2) Dakwar E, et al. Neurosurg Focus 2010;28(3):E8; 3) Dhall SS, et al. J Neurosurg Spine 2008;9:560-565; 4) Whitecloud TS, et al. J Spinal Disord 2001;14(2):100-103; 5) Deluzio KJ, et al. SAS Journal 2010;4:37-40; 6) Oszgur DM, et al. SAS Journal 2010;4:41-46; 7) Park Y, et al. Spine 2007;32(5):537-543.