More than 100,000 eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) procedures have been performed in the U.S. and abroad to successfully treat a range of spine conditions, including degenerative disc disease (DDD) and advanced DDD with resultant degenerative spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and adjacent segment disease. XLIF corpectomy has also been used to treat patients suffering from severe spinal cord injuries resulting from trauma or tumors, where a large part of the vertebra must be removed. For these trauma and tumor patients, an XLIF corpectomy procedure often results in a faster recovery than traditional open corpectomy procedures. Here are some patient benefits of the XLIF procedure:
1. Reduced operative time
Traditional procedures can take up to five hours; the XLIF procedure can be successfully completed in as little as one hour, reducing the amount of anesthesia time.1
2. Reduced blood loss and minimal scarring
XLIF allows for less tissue disruption, resulting in reduced blood loss.1
3. Reduced postoperative pain
The XLIF procedure does not disrupt sensitive back muscles, bones, or ligaments. Many patients walk within 24 hours of surgery.2,3
4. Reduced hospital stay
After XLIF, patients usually require a stay of one to two days in the hospital, compared to several days of immobility and hospitalization typical of traditional open approaches.1,4
5. Faster return to normal activity
XLIF recovery is typically around six weeks, compared to six months or more with traditional procedures.1,4
Potential Risks
Potential risks following the XLIF procedure may include: early or late infection, which may result in the need for additional surgeries; damage to the blood vessels, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves; pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs); loss of sensory and/or motor (muscle) function; impotence; permanent pain and/or deformity. Rarely, some complications may be fatal.
As with any spine surgery, there are potential benefits and possible risks associated with the XLIF procedure. Individual results will vary. It is important to discuss the possible risks and potential benefits of XLIF with a doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your physician’s judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this procedure.
1. Villavicencio AT, Burneikiene S, Bulsara KR, et al. Perioperative complications in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus anterior-posterior reconstruction for lumbar disc degeneration and instability. J Spinal Disord Tech 2006;19(2):92-7.
2. Lucio JC, VanConia RB, Deluzio KJ, et al. Economics of less invasive spinal surgery: an analysis of hospital cost differences between open and minimally invasive instrumented spinal fusion procedures during the perioperative period. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy 2012;5,6-74.
3. Rihn JA, Patel R, Makda J, et al. Complications associated with single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Spine J 2009;9(8):623-629.
4. Park Y, Ha JW. Comparison of one-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion performed with a minimally invasive approach or a traditional approach. Spine 2007:32(5):537-43.
The above data represents typical outcomes of patients being treated for degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and scoliosis.
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