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Best Alif Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Broadway

Anterior Interbody Fusion

Best Alif Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Broadway

Spinal Fusion, a surgical procedure that permanently joins vertebrae together, is performed to treat disorders associated with the spine. It seeks to stabilise and reduce pain from injuries, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, and other illnesses where excessive spinal mobility is an issue. One of the goals of Spinal Fusion is to alleviate motion-related pain by immobilising the damaged vertebrae. 

The Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) specifically targets disc problems in the lower back. To relieve nerve compression and realign the spine, an abdominal incision is made to remove the damaged disc and replace it with a bone graft. The graft encourages the gradual fusing of neighbouring vertebrae into a single, solid bone structure. For individuals with crippling conditions, this procedure is intended to reduce pain, restore spinal stability, improve overall function, and promote the well-being of the individual. 
 

FAQ's

ALIF surgery can effectively increase the vertical distance between two spinal vertebrae, which is often compromised by the degeneration of a lumbar disc. This reduction often results in various issues, such as a pinched nerve, instability, arthritis, or spinal deformity. Therefore, ALIF can be used to address conditions such as radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative scoliosis.
 

The main difference between both procedures is the approach. Interbody Fusion is one kind of Spinal Fusion that involves removing the intervertebral disc from the disc space and placing a bone graft or implant between the vertebrae to fuse them. Whereas, a standard Fusion procedure typically involves fusing the bones directly without removing the disc.
 

 

Ultimately, the healthcare team conducts a pre-operative assessment to tailor the treatment plan to your specific needs. The proposed procedure will be executed in the following manner: 

  • Anaesthesia and Induction: Patients are given general anaesthesia to ensure comfort and a painless procedure. Pain management after waking up includes IV and oral medications.

  • Positioning: Patients are placed on the operating table. A breathing tube has been placed, and the entire anaesthetic effect is realised.

  • Incision and Access: To gain access to the spine, a vascular surgeon creates an incision in the lower abdomen and employs retractor tools to push the abdominal muscles aside. 

  • Decompression: The surgical removal of damaged discs alleviates pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. An X-ray is used to confirm the correct placement for the surgery.

  • Fusion: To help with fusion and spinal cord/nerve decompression, a metal or plastic cage and bone graft are used to replace the excised disc.

  • Closure: Muscles can return to their natural position because absorbable sutures seal the wound without the need for removal.

The ALIF technique is merely one of the various methods for Spinal Fusion. Direct access to the front of the spinal column is the main advantage of the ALIF technique. The following are the advantages of selecting the ALIF methodology over alternative fusion methods:

  • Nerves and muscles in the back are unaffected

  • For improved stability of the fusion construct, a substantial spacer (spinal implant) may be employed

  • The endplate's broad surface area is compressed against the bone transplant

  • It is possible to restore the spine's natural curvature more successfully and efficiently

After surgery, patients may experience reduced discomfort during the procedure and report improved symptoms two to four weeks later. Their recovery period, though, can differ. The surgeon's primary goal is for the patient to quickly resume regular activities. Achieving a favourable outcome depends on a combination of optimism, realistic expectations, and following post-operative instructions, guided by your healthcare team.
 

Similar to most procedures, risks from ALIF could include excessive blood loss and infection risk. Other such issues that could arise are:

  • Risk of infection: An infection at the surgical site could necessitate antibiotics or additional care.

  • Nerve injury: There is a chance that the operation will harm surrounding nerves, impairing motor or sensory function.

  • Blood vessel damage: Circulatory intervention may be necessary if the iliac arteries are damaged during spinal access.

  • Implant problems: Migration or failure of the bone graft or cage-related complications.

  • Pain: Postoperative pain at the location of the incision or nearby.

  • Bowel or bladder dysfunction: In rare cases, surgical manipulation results in either temporary or permanent dysfunction.

  • Incisional hernia: An incisional hernia occurs when a muscle protrudes from the abdominal incision.

Depending on how effectively their pain is controlled and how mobile they are, patients often spend one to three days in the hospital following an ALIF. As soon as possible after surgery, patients should start standing and moving around. For comfort and support during the healing process, a back brace may be prescribed. Simple movements like walking will be part of the rehabilitation plan for a few weeks, but caution should be used to avoid bending, twisting, or heavy lifting. It is expected that lower back pain and function will decrease in the weeks and months following an ALIF. 
 

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