OLIF
The oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) is a technique for fusing the lumbar spine. It is used to treat degenerative spinal disorders, including lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy (leg pain), and back pain.
The procedure consists of two parts. In the first, a short incision is made over the left flank to access the disc between two vertebrae. The diseased disc is removed, and an implant with bone graft is inserted. In the second part, screws are inserted into the vertebrae through the back to provide additional stabilization.
OLIF offers advantages over other fusion techniques such as TLIF in that a larger graft can be inserted into the disc space and less muscle dissection is needed, which reduces post-operative pain. And it does not require mobilization of the large blood vessels in front of the spine needed for an ALIF.
Whether an OLIF is the right procedure for you will depend on your particular symptoms, the anatomy of your spine, and whether you have had prior interventions on your spine. We will discuss these factors in your office visit.
Pre- and post-operative MRI scans for a patient who underwent an L4-5 OLIF. Pre-operatively (left), L4 had slipped forward on L5 due to disc disease, causing leg and back pain. OLIF restored the natural alignment of the spine (right), opening up the spinal canal and relieving pressure on the nerve roots.