Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a type of spinal fusion procedure in which bone graft is placed between the affected vertebrae in the lower back (lumbar) region through an incision on the patient’s back.

Indications:

Based on the spinal condition, age, activity levels, and the medical history of the patient, the surgeon may recommend TLIF as a treatment option.

It is indicated in the following spinal instability conditions:

• Degenerative disc disease (damaged disc)
• Spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebra on another)
• Spinal stenosis

The common symptoms associated with lumbar spinal instability are pain, numbness, and muscle weakness in the lower back, hips and legs.

Procedure:

The basic steps involved are as follows:

• A small incision is made in the skin on your back over the affected vertebrae.
• Muscles encircling the affected spine are retracted to gain accessibility to the spine.
• Lamina covering the vertebra is removed to view the nerve roots
• Facet joints (structures that connect the vertebrae to one another) may be undercut or trimmed to provide more space for the nerve roots.
• Nerve roots are moved away to remove the disc material from the anterior region of the spine.
• Bone graft is inserted between the vertebrae.
• Screws and rods are fixed to stabilize the spine.
• Soft tissues are re-approximated and the incision is closed.

Recovery:

Most patients who have undergone TLIF surgery go home in one to two days, but in some cases, hospital stay may be extended.

Your surgeon may recommend a few specific post-operative instructions for a fast and better recovery. Generally, patients may return to their routine activities within weeks after surgery.

Risks and complications:

The possible complications associated with TLIF include:

• Infection
• Nerve damage
• Blood clots
• Blood loss
• Bowel or bladder problems

The primary risk of TLIF is failure of fusion of vertebral bone and bone graft which may require an additional surgery.

Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse effects, clinical results and other important medical information that pertains to TLIF procedure.