PLIF Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
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Patient Information Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

PLIF Table of Contents Anatomy of the Spine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 General Conditions of the Spine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Degenerative Disc Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . Spondylolisthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Treating Spinal Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

Cervical Area Thoracic Area PLIF Patient Information

Anatomy of the Spine The spine is made up of vertebrae and is divided into 3 main sections: • Cervical (7 vertebrae) • Thoracic (12 vertebrae) • Lumbar (5 vertebrae) Below the lumbar spine is the sacrum which is comprised of 5 fused vertebrae. At the end of the spine is the coccyx, or the tailbone. The vertebrae bear the weight of the upper body and provide points of attachment for muscles and ligaments. It also protects the spinal canal and provides exit points for spinal nerves. The individual vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs, which act as cushions or shock absorbers...

General Conditions of the Lumbar Spine There are a variety of conditions that affect the spine and can cause pain. Several of the more common conditions are described below. Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative changes in the spine may cause instability and pain in your back. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) involves the intervertebral disc and is part of the natural aging process. Healthy Discs In the normal spine, your discs act as a shock absorber between vertebrae. Over time the discs can lose flexibility, elasticity, and height. When this happens, they lose their shock absorbing...

Spondylolisthesis Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one of the vertebrae slips forward or backward. If left untreated, this can lead to deformity of the spine and narrowing of the spinal canal. Normal spine segment Displaced vertebra causing pressure on nerve Typical symptoms include low back pain, muscle spasms, thigh or leg pain, and weakness. Interestingly, some patients are asymptomatic and only learn of the disorder after spinal radiographs, such as x-rays. PLIF Patient Information

Spinal Stenosis Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of areas in the spine where nerve roots and the spinal cord must travel. It is most commonly caused by age-related spinal degeneration. This narrowing can put pressure on the nerves and cause pain. Healthy Spine Spinal Stenosis Spinal canal Compressed cord and nerves Exiting Nerve Root Exiting Nerve Root Disc Symptoms often start gradually over time. Pain is likely to be present or worsen when you stand or walk, and lessen or disappear when you sit down or lean forward. Typically, people suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis will experience...

Treating Spinal Conditions There are a variety of surgical approaches to treating spinal conditions. The choice of which approach to use is dependent on many factors which include patient symptoms, patient anatomy, prior surgery, and/or surgeon preference. PLIF is one of the options that your doctor may choose. What is a PLIF? Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) is a form of spine surgery in which the lumbar spine is approached through an incision on the back. This procedure is used to stabilize the spine by fusing two or more vertebrae together. How is a PLIF Performed? During the...

Pedicle Screws and Rods Pedicle screws and rods are used to hold the spinal segment in place while fusion occurs and for stability. The screws are inserted into the vertebrae to be fused. Bone graft may be added along the side of the vertebrae to support the fusion. The surgeon then closes the incision and moves the patient into recovery. What Should I Expect with My Recovery? Many patients will notice improvement of some or all of their symptoms and pain may diminish a few weeks after surgery. However, recovery time varies between patients. Typically, it is the surgeon’s goal for the...

PLIF Patient Information

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