“PLIF” stands for “Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.” It is a surgical procedure used to treat spinal instability or other conditions that cause pain or nerve compression in the lower back.
Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure that involves joining two or more vertebrae together in the spine. This is typically done to alleviate pain caused by conditions such as spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, or spinal fractures.
A laminectomy is a type of spine surgery that involves surgical removal of a segment of bone called the lamina. The lamina is the arch that forms the roof of the spinal canal. Removing this roof creates space and can relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. This procedure is often done to treat conditions such as spinal stenosis, or provide access to herniated discs and tumors of the spinal cord.
A foraminotomy, also known as foraminal decompression, is a surgical procedure performed to relieve pressure on a nerve root that exits the spinal cord through an opening called the intervertebral foramen.
XLIF, or Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat spinal conditions in the lower back.
