Safety and Viability of Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Complex Revision Lumbar Spine Surgeries: Insights From a Case Series of 135 Patients on Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion/Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Cage Removal

Article Figures & Data

Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Figure 1
Patient selection.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Figure 2
Median longitudinal incisions in the abdomen for anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF).
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Figure 3
Aecio Dias retractors positioned for the L4 to L5 levels.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Figure 4
Step-by-step process of cage removal. (a) Release of the upper plateau cage with a chisel. (b) Release of the lower plateau cage with a chisel. (c) Cleaning of the disc space with forceps. (d) Cleaning of the disc space with a curette. (e) Cleaning of the disc space with Kerrison forceps. (f) Positioning the trial. (g) Positioned cage.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Figure 5
Final result of the removal of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)/posterior lumbar interbody fusion and placement of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) cage. (a) Visualization of the ALIF cage. (b) Visualization of the ALIF cage after removal of retractors from the major vessels. (c) TLIF cage removed.
Download figure
Open in new tab
Download powerpoint
Figure 6
Intraoperative complications in anterior lumbar interbody fusion for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion/posterior lumbar interbody fusion cage removal.

Table 1

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing ALIF for TLIF/PLIF cage removal (N = 135).

Abbreviations: ALIF, anterior lumbar interbody fusion; BMI, body mass index; PLIF, posterior lumbar interbody fusion; TLIF, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Note: Data presented as n (%) unless otherwise noted.

Table 2

Summary of intraoperative outcomes (N = 135).