A spinal fusion procedure performed through the back of the spine to treat instability, degenerative disc disease, and nerve compression. The procedure involves removing the damaged disc, decompressing the nerves, and placing implants into the disc space through a laminectomy to stabilize the spine and promote fusion.
Quick Facts:
- Performed through the back of the spine
- Removes a damaged disc and decompresses nerves
- Restores disc height and spinal stability
- Often combined with pedicle screw and rod fixation
WHY WE PREFER TLIF OVER PLIF
Both Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) are well-established procedures used to stabilize the spine and promote fusion. Both operations involve removing a damaged disc, placing an implant into the disc space, and stabilizing the spine with screws and rods.
PLIF = Bilateral interbody cages are placed through a standard laminectomy
TLIF = Unilateral or bilateral interbody cages are placed through the facet joints, lateral to a typical PLIF cage
In our practice, we routinely perform TLIF rather than PLIF. The TLIF approach allows access to the disc space from one side of the spine, which typically requires less retraction of the nerves within the spinal canal. This can reduce manipulation of sensitive neural structures while still allowing for excellent decompression, restoration of disc height, and spinal stabilization.
Modern implants and surgical techniques allow TLIF to achieve many of the same goals as PLIF while often providing greater flexibility in treating a wide variety of spinal conditions. For this reason, TLIF has become one of the most commonly performed lumbar fusion procedures worldwide.
Every patient’s anatomy and condition are unique, and there are situations where other fusion approaches such as ALIF, OLIF, or LLIF may be appropriate.
Our goal is to select the procedure that provides the safest and most durable outcome for each individual patient.