Conditions & Procedures

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) 

A Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) consists of using bone graft (a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone) to illicit a response from the body that will cause the bone between two vertebrae to grow. This is done to stop the motion between the two bone segments.

Prior to the surgery, the surgeon will require an MRI and CAT scan in order to determine the size of the material that will be used. The operation includes an incision where the spinal muscles are separated, allowing access to the spine. The surgeon will remove any obstacle to the nerves. The affected disc is then removed, allowing the surgeon to add the bone graft, allograft, or cage. The bone graft will allow for fusion, which causes two bones to grow together into one solid bone. Fusion cages are screws filled with bone graft. They assist with the fusion by helping the spine heal together.

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