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Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery (PLIF)
Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is a form of spinal fusion surgery performed on the lower back. The goal of any lumbar spinal fusion surgery is to ease back pain by reducing the range of motion at a certain level in your spine. To perform a posterior lumbar fusion procedure, the surgeon accesses the affected lumbar vertebrae through the back rather than the side or the front of the body. Incisions are between 3 and 6 inches long, depending on how many vertebrae need to be fused.
THE POSTERIOR LUMBAR INTERBODY FUSION PROCEDURE HAS LARGELY REPLACED AN OLDER FORM OF SPINAL FUSION SURGERY CALLED POSTERIOR LUMBAR FUSION SURGERY (PLF). PLF CONSISTED OF FUSING ADJACENT VERTEBRAE WITHOUT THE PLACEMENT OF AN INTERBODY IMPLANT, WHICH OFTEN WORKED IN THE SHORT TERM BUT LED TO WORSENING PAIN DOWN THE ROAD.
TODAY’S POSTERIOR SPINAL FUSION PATIENTS ENJOY MUCH BETTER LONG TERM OUTCOMES WITH THE INCLUSION OF INTERBODY IMPLANTS, WHICH RESTORE DISC HEIGHT AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY SPINAL CURVATURE THAT IMPROVES OVERALL LONG TERM PAIN REDUCTION AND OUTCOMES.
PLIF can also be performed as a minimally invasive surgery using smaller incisions and special instrumentation. Dr. Baig is skilled and experienced in both forms of posterior lumbar fusion procedures.
What Happens During a Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion?
A benefit of PLIF over standard posterior lumbar fusion surgery is how it’s performed – by accessing the spine through the back, which reduces the risk of damaging nearby tissue in the lumbar region. Through the incision, Dr. Baig will retract the back muscles and carefully remove the lamina of the affected vertebrae to access the damaged disc or discs. Additional bone and tissue may need to be removed, depending on the severity of your condition.
The damaged disc is surgically removed and replaced with an interbody implant and bone graft tissue. Although the implant can’t replace a lost spinal disc, it’s used to restore the spine’s integrity by maintaining the lost disc height and promoting proper spinal curvature. Additional bone graft material and screws, plates or rods are also used to fuse the vertebrae together.
Why Choose Posterior Fusion Surgery (PLIF)?
There are other approaches available for performing spinal fusion surgery:
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Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) – accessing the spine from the side or lateral part of the body.
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Anterior lateral interbody fusion (ALIF) – the surgeon accesses the spine from the front of the body.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each procedure, and in some cases, XLIF and ALIF are preferable. However, not everyone is a candidate for these approaches, while most people can have posterior fusion surgery.
Typically, a posterior spinal fusion procedure offers the following benefits over traditional spinal fusion surgery:
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The inclusion of an interbody implant restores three-dimensional alignment and balance to your spine.
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Long-term outcomes of pain reduction in posterior lumbar interbody fusions are far superior to traditional posterior lumbar fusion surgery.
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Post-operative complications, such as hardware failure and non-union (meaning the bones fail to heal) are significantly reduced as compared with traditional spinal fusion surgery.
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Minimally invasive PLIF uses much smaller incisions and sparing the back muscles from significant damage. Dr. Baig uses minimally invasive PLIF surgery whenever appropriate.
For many patients, the posterior lumbar interbody fusion recovery time is fairly quick, with patients often able to return to work within 6 weeks and the majority of daily activities within a few months.
Am I a Candidate for Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery?
MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE CANDIDATES FOR SPINAL FUSION SURGERY ARE CANDIDATES FOR PLIF. AS ALWAYS, DR. BAIG WILL NOT PERFORM ANY FORM OF BACK SURGERY UNLESS HE IS CERTAIN IT WILL HELP YOU. A CONSULTATION WITH DR. BAIG IS THE BEST WAY TO FIND AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PLAN FOR YOUR BACK PAIN AND RELATED SYMPTOMS.
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT TODAY TO LEARN MORE.
WE DIAGNOSE THE ROOT
Chronic back pain can be debilitating and leave you feeling hopeless. When Craig wasn’t getting the care he felt he deserved, he reached out to Dr. Baig to get the help he needed.
Unfortunately, this is a common problem: People suffering from back pain see a doctor, get diagnosed with some type of “chronic” condition, obtain a prescription and perhaps go to a few physical therapy appointments. They feel a bit better for a time, but the root of the problem is never diagnosed or properly treated. This is how back pain can become chronic, and this is why people ultimately seek the help of Desert Spine and Scoliosis center, expert back surgeons in Phoenix.
Dr. Baig, one of the most respected back surgeons in Phoenix, helped Craig identify his problem by relying on his years of expertise as a spine specialist in Phoenix. With the proper treatment, Craig’s condition improved and he was able to get back into life without the terrible pain that had dragged him down for so long. This is what patients should reasonably expect from our team of Phoenix spine surgeons.
SUCCESS STORIES
For an active 39 year old who participates in Jiujitsu, having a spinal fusion would not have been the right thing for her. We were able to get her back on the mat after a successful disc replacement and she is back living her life
NO MORE BACK PAIN!
For an active young mom, having a spinal fusion was out of the question.
She was back in the gym THE SAME DAY after she had an Endoscopic Decompression. Dr. Baig and is living life
PAIN FREE!
This personal trainer got a cervical disc replacement.
She was able to avoid a fusion, keep her her range of motion, and get back
into the gym
PAIN FREE!
WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY
We wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our patients who take the time to leave a review about their experience at our practice.
Your kind words and feedback are greatly appreciated by our entire team, and your review helps other patients make an informed decision about where to turn to for care.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with others. You are making a difference.
T.M. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig and his team are phenomenal. I had a compressed nerve due to a bulging disc and was able to be seen relatively quickly. Surgery was quick and flawless and I have no complaints at all. I truly appreciated how fast they worked to get me seen and out of all the pain I was in! Highly recommend them."
A.H. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig literally changed my life for the better. I had a severely pinched nerve in my neck and needed to get surgery. Immediately at my first consult I felt comfortable and in good hands. I even walked away with a smile on my face during that scary time.
Surgery day couldn’t have gone better. The team he had also had a great bedside manner and helped keep me calm.
After the surgery and in the recovery room, he came in and checked on me and made sure I was all good before releasing me."
S.D. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig was going to be my second opinion for an upcoming scheduled spinal surgery. After my appointment, he will be my surgeon. He gave me a lot of information that was lacking from my other doctors. I felt very comfortable with Dr Baig and his entire office staff. Looking forward to living pain free after we strengthen my bones. It’s going to be a permanent fix and not a bandaid."
Consult Our Back Surgeons in Phoenix
Back pain can often be a result of an accident, injury, or congenital conditions such as scoliosis. Certain forms of back pain can be a result of the natural aging process, including conditions such as disc protrusion and spinal stenosis.
Today, advancements in imaging, and non surgical techniques have led to more treatment options than ever before, allowing us to return our patients the life they once knew…usually without the need for invasive spine surgery.
Typically, back surgeons in Phoenix offer one type of help, even though there are many others available. When you work with Dr. Baig at the Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, you can rest assured that everything is on the table when it comes to potential treatments that are accepted by the medical world.
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Just how ‘minimal’ is minimally invasive spine surgery?
Book your appointment today and we'll be happy to educate you!
As a top-rated spine specialist, Dr. Baig understands that this complicated part of the body can lead to many different problems, and each possibility will be considered before deciding on a treatment protocol.
Get answers, get help, get back to a better quality of life––schedule an appointment today.
Get maximum relief with minimal risk
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
SPINE PROCEDURES
ENDOSCOPIC
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SPINE PROCEDURES
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