Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery

Many people find relief from crippling leg and back pain due to spinal conditions through posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery. This procedure fuses bones together to alleviate pain. New York Spine Institute offers traditional and minimally invasive PLIF surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) allows for quicker recovery and a better post-surgical experience than traditional, open surgery.

Related Conditions

Car Accidents Compression Fractures Degenerative Disc Disease Facet Syndrome Herniated Disc Low Back Pain Muscle Strain Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Occipital Neuralgia Post Surgical Pain Sciatica Scoliosis SI Joint Dysfunction Spinal Myelopathy Spinal Stenosis Spondyloisthesis Sports Injuries Whiplash Work Injuries

Why Rely on New York Spine Institute for PLIF Surgery?

Since New York Spine Institute (NYSI) opened in 2000, it has helped thousands of patients find relief from sciatica, which is an irritation of the sciatic nerve. When you turn to us for PLIF, we’ll offer you:

Industry-leading surgeons

NYSI’s staff comprises top surgeons. Our experienced board-certified orthopedic spine specialists will thoroughly explain treatment options and create a tailored treatment plan to address your unique challenges.

Advanced surgical methods

As one of the largest spine and orthopedic centers in the tri-state area, you can count on us to provide comprehensive, leading-edge musculoskeletal care.

Inclusive care

Our world-class staff is ready to assist patients from around the world. NYSI staff speaks various languages, including French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish, to accommodate our patients.

What Is PLIF?

PLIF surgery is a form of spinal fusion that treats lower back pain and leg pain that occurs when the round discs that separate your vertebrae wear out or are damaged. During a PLIF procedure, a surgeon removes the worn-out or damaged disk in your lower spine and replaces it with interbody spacers made from bone, plastic or metal.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion has advantages and disadvantages. With PLIF, surgeons can achieve a 360-degree spinal fusion with a single incision. With one incision, surgeons insert interbody spacers into the front of the spine — this area has a high fusion rate as there is more surface area. One of the drawbacks of PLIF is that prolonged muscle retraction could delay recovery.

What Conditions Does Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Treat?

When non-surgical treatments, pain management and physical therapy do not significantly alleviate your pain, your primary health care provider might suggest PLIF surgery. Spine surgeons may use PLIF surgery to address the following:

Spinal conditions like scoliosis
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolisthesis
Recurrent herniated discs
Degenerative disc disease

Types of PLIF Surgical Procedures

Patients who suffer from sciatica can receive traditional or minimally invasive PLIF surgery.

Open PLIF Surgery

When performing open PLIF surgery, your surgeon will:

Make an incision in your lower back and separate your back muscles to expose your spine
Remove the lamina bone and the damaged disc
Add bone graft material to a spacer and carefully insert it to replace a damaged disc
Add more bone graft around the spacer to help your bones fuse
Use screws to secure the spacer
Release the back muscles into their natural position and close the incision

Minimally Invasive PLIF Surgery Procedure

During minimally invasive PLIF surgery, your surgeon will:

Use X-ray imaging to pinpoint the exact surgical position
Make several tiny incisions in your lower back and rely on a retractor device to expand the surgical field and hold back the muscle
Attach a microscope or endoscope to the retractor to offer a close-up image of the surgical field
Remove the lamina bone and the damaged disc
Use screws to minimize movement and bone graft to encourage fusion

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Recovery

Patients who receive minimally invasive PLIF surgery may generally return home the same day of surgery. Recovery time for open PLIF varies — it can take a full year to recover completely from traditional PLIF surgery.

Need a Consultation for Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Treatment?

If you are struggling with debilitating leg or back pain due to spinal conditions, the renowned NYSI team is ready to help.

Schedule an appointment with one of our spine specialists to discuss your unique challenges, and let us tailor a treatment plan to help you tackle them.

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