MIS PLIF

The Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS PLIF) is where a spine surgeon performs a standard PLIF surgery but with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) retractors and instruments that reduce the incision dramatically to reduce disruption to muscles and ligaments in the low back, which in turn speeds return to activity with less discomfort after surgery.

Overall, the goal of a PLIF surgery is to eliminate pain symptoms and provide stability to a segment of the back that was the pain generator.

During a PLIF surgery, the surgeon removes a damaged disc from between two vertebrae in the low back. Because the removal of portions of the disc lower the disc space between the vertebrae, the surgeon must insert a piece of bone back between the vertebrae to retain the normal disc space and prevent impingement on nerve roots. The bone may be harvested from the patient’s own hip or from a bone bank.

Posterior means the surgeon is operating from the back. During a PLIF surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in the patient’s low back. Muscles and tissues are pulled aside to enable the spine surgeon to access the spine. The main difference between a traditional PLIF and a minimally invasive PLIF is the size of the incision. By reducing the amount of disruption to tissues and muscles in the low back, there is lest post-surgical discomfort and a quicker return to activity. There is also less blood loss and less need for blood during the surgery.

Once the bone is inserted between the vertebrae it then enables the two vertebrae to fuse together over time. This bone fusion, although, will reduce the motion of the vertebrae as they become locked together. Because there are many vertebral segments in the low back, there is no real noticeable lost in the ability of the spine to rotate.