Introduction The pre-psoas oblique lateral approach to the lumbar spine was first described by Mayer et al. in 1997. At that time, the approach was described only for the L2-5 disk spaces and the authors recommended an anterior transabdominal approach to…
Introduction Lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) is a well-accepted treatment for spinal pathologies. Traditionally, LIF is performed using posterior approaches. These open strategies require broad dissection of the paraspinal musculature and nerve root retraction to access the disk space for interbody…
Introduction The transpsoas lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) technique was first introduced by Pimenta and Taylor in 2006 as an alternative to traditional anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Over the past decade, LLIF has established itself as an effective means and…
Introduction Each year in the United States more than 250,000 individuals undergo spinal fusions for degenerative lumbar spine pathology. Minimally invasive techniques for posterior lumbar interbody fusion offer the benefits of a smaller incision, minimization of injury to muscles and…
Introduction Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF) allows a surgeon to restore intervertebral disk height, lumbar lordosis, and achieve an indirect decompression of the spinal canal and neural foramen while preserving vital posterior soft tissues. Adequate exposure of anatomic…
Introduction Posterior lumbar interbody fusion techniques have been popular since the 1950. Specifically, posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) was a very popular technique; however, it required removal of both facets in order to achieve adequate graft positioning. To surpass the…
Introduction The technique of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is an important technique in the current spine surgeon’s armamentarium. That being said, the surgery is still defined by its level of technical difficulty and controversy exists regarding the safety of…
Introduction The anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a powerful and versatile tool for obtaining interbody fusion for a variety of conditions. Anterior fusion for disk disease was first described by Burns, and Harmon first described a retroperitoneal approach in…
Introduction Minimally invasive spine surgery has gained much popularity in recent years owing to the reductions in patient morbidity, length of hospital stay, and costs. Although these short-term outcomes have seen marked improvements, there has been little improvement in the…
Introduction Anterior and lateral approaches to the lumbar spine are performed with increasing frequency and for a wider range of indications. To avoid complications and maximize patient outcomes, a clear understanding of the anatomy encountered during these approaches is necessary.…