Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

TLIF stands for Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. This surgery is a refinement of the PLIF procedure and has recently gained popularity as a surgical treatment for conditions affecting the lumbar spine.

The TLIF technique involves approaching the spine in a similar manner as the PLIF approach but more from the side of the spinal canal through a midline incision in the patient's back. This approach minimizes the nerve manipulation required to access the vertebrae, discs and nerves.

As with PLIF and ALIF, disc material is removed from the spine and replaced with bone graft inserted into the disc space(along with cages, screws, or rods if necessary). The instrumentation helps facilitate fusion while adding strength and stability to the spine.