A Guide on Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
Spinal problems could be related to age or traumatic injuries, and in both cases, the condition could be debilitating. The spine is known as the backbone of our body, and it helps perform numerous body movements like bending, standing, running, etc. When the spine gets injured due to any reason, the affected person becomes unable to even do regular activities.
If the injury is serious, surgery may be required to treat the condition, and for that, spinal implants may also be used. To get international standard quality implants in India, search for “Top Orthopedic Implant Companies in India.”
Well, when it comes to the surgical treatment of spinal problems, spinal fusion is the most performed procedure. Now, it is also important for you to know that spinal fusion can be performed in multiple ways, and one of the techniques is what we will discuss here.
This post will focus on extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) including its procedure, risks, and recovery time.
Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) – An Overview
XLIF is a minimally invasive surgical technique that is done via the lateral side of the body for the treatment of various spinal disorders. This surgical procedure is also done to relieve long-term back pain and leg pain that does not respond to other conventional treatments.
In this technique, the surgeon accesses the intervertebral space from the side rather than from the front or back. No major muscles, ligaments, or bones get affected during the surgery.
Procedure of XLIF
The best part about this surgical procedure is that it takes only around an hour to fix the problem. During the surgery, the surgeon operates the area that is close to nerves present in the spinal column, so, to prevent any injury to them, EMG (electromyography) will be used during surgery to get notified about nerve positioning.
XLIF is done under general anesthesia thus, the patient will remain asleep during the procedure. At the start, a small incision is made at the back to locate the peritoneum and protect them from injuries during the surgery. Now, another incision will be made on the side after locating the area through an x-ray. The instruments will be guided through the incision on the side and the problematic disc will be removed.
Tubular dilators and tissue retractors are used to locate visualize the disc and remove it. Once this is done, a bone graft placed in an implant will be placed in the intervertebral space so that vertebrae can fuse solidly over time. After the procedure completes, the wound will be closed with stitches. Again, an x-ray will be performed to ensure the correct placement of the implant.
Risks Associated with XLIF
Risks are there with all surgical procedures, and some of the possible ones associated with XLIF include:
- Implant fusion failure
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Muscle weakness
- Stroke
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infection
- Damage to the nerve or spinal cord
- Blood vessel injury
How Recovery Occurs After XLIF?
Recovery after XLIF is better and faster when compared to other spinal fusion techniques. The patient can even walk 4-5 hours after the surgery. In maximum cases, discharge from the hospital is given the next day. Medications are prescribed to manage pain and inflammation, and exercise programs may also be suggested depending upon the patient’s health.
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