Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) - Step by step procedure details, anatomy, & recovery review

I had this procedure done September 29,2022. Completely changed my life and I'm so grateful! God is so great!

I am having anterior and posterior lumbar fusion in a month for spondylolisthesis, central annular tear, moderate degenerative disc disease, para defect, and severe foraminal stenosis in L4-L5 and L5-S1! I saved this video so I can watch it again and again to prepare me! Thank you for making an awesome video!

I am obsessed with you videos, they are so educational and easy to understand. 10/10!!!! Please don't stop creating these gems.

Excellent! Easily the most comprehensive explanation of this procedure on YouTube.

I’m scheduled to have this surgery done next month. Thank you for clearly explaining the procedure and especially the typical recovery process. You’ve set my mind at ease; I’ll be gracious to give my nerves the year they need to recover proper functioning.

Awesome explanations, especially for patients that will be undergoing this surgery. Takes the unknown away. Thank you for the amazing visuals.

This is phenomenal in its complete description and visuals for laypersons. Thank you for this gift of understanding from one gifted to heal with restorative medical skill. Be blessed.

Very helpful. My wife just had this procedure today so I was looking for a thorough explanation. You did great.

Hello Doctor! You are the most eloquent, responsive, and well dressed doctor I've seen. Thank for everything you do. I hope you can give an answer as you seem to understand and address all the nuances that others do not. I'm 42 and I'm in exceptional physical condition. I'm 6 weeks post op from ALIF with ROI-A cage, screws and rods for a bulging L5-S1 disc into the posterolateral and foraminal space in the right side with a very very slight 2mm spondylolisthesis. I've never had any issues my entire life until sciatica 6 months ago that got severe. I was convinced it was piriformis syndrome because there was zero back pain even though I know the odds are that 95 percent of sciatica comes from discs and I had the MRI showing the severe foraminal narrowing. I went to 1 Ortho and 2 Neurosurgeons and all 3 said ALIF would be the way to go based off my images and symptoms. 1 of the Neurosurgeons is the head at PENN so I wasn't messing around. They all dismissed piriformis syndrome. I'm now 6 weeks post op and I'm recovering fast as fit people usually do, but my leg symptoms are still there. I'm well aware that the cage gave me a couple mm more of height so there could be some nerve stretch but it's nothing crazy because my disc height wasn't terrible in the first place like a patient with DDD. My concern is that the ALIF approach still leaves some disc material in the spaces I needed removed due to the approach from the front and inability to remove 100 percent of the disc. My doctor said that would dry up and absorb. Of course only an MRI would show the proper soft tissue imaging to see if the foraminal piece of the disc is still touching the nerve. I've never heard any doctor address that ALIF doesn't decompress nerves as well as TLIF because of the lack of access to the back of the disc so I'm guessing it's not a huge deal. Could there still be disc on my nerve? What if I give it a solid 6 months and the leg still feels the exact same? Should I then seek out an endoscopic piriformis decompression? I have such a great understanding of the anatomy and what is going on and I just want it solved. The leg doesn't feel like it did at its worst point but it still feels like it did leading up to surgery. I'm hoping it's just that the nerve needs to heal because if not, I will have given up a vital piece of my anatomy for nothing and all the future risks that come with that.

I’ve had ALIF spinal surgery 12-2-2020… that was the 3rd spinal, the 1st & 2nd ones was botched. They put a spacer in with NO screws& it fell out & got tangled/twisted in my nerves.. 3yrs. after ALIF, I’m still in pain because of nerves. I’m only 46. I was 41 going on 42! I’m tired of crying and being in constant pain

I am a retired physician about to undergo L4-S1 TLIF. I have been treating my osteoarthritis conservatively for 4+ years. In the past 6 weeks my low back pain has severely negatively affected my QOL. MRI shows marked progression with severe nerve root compression at more than one level with new anterolisthesis that is grade1. Your video presentation is awesome! Reenforced what my neurosurgeon said. I would highly recommend it for lay people.

Thank you SO much for this wonderful video! I feel so much more confident about my procedure. I especially appreciate the detail you go into regarding by recovery. Knowing what to expect and the timelines for pain relief/recovery is incredibly helpful (and something not all doctors cover thoroughly enough). Thank you!!

Your videos are so informative and thorough! Thank you so much for sharing.

This was the best explanation of ALIF surgery or and procedure I ever watched. I’ll be having this surgery in a month and I feel more confident of what to expect pre and post surgery. Thank you

Excellent explanation. Very clear and complete.

I love your videos because they’re so easy to understand. I’m having neck & back surgery this year & your videos really help me understand what I will be going through. THANK YOU

I'm about to have an ALIF and you were way more informative than my provider!!! THANK YOU for posting this!! I now understand exactly what I'm having done!

Getting ready for this surgery. Your explanation was outstanding. Very detailed and informative. Thank you

Probably the most informative, articulated, diagramed , and well produced medical video I have ever seen. You give Dr. Choll in California a run for his money. Wow. I have spondy of the L 5 S1 and 2 grade 3 Anterolistthesis on L5 S1. No leg issues but debilitating back spasms at times. Would love to see an O. R. video.

Oh. My. God. Thankyou for this. I'm having a 2 day anterior/posterior spinal fusion but the first part is what freaks me out. Your description and chart alleviated my fear completely. I was so worried they were sifting through my abdomen and got all sleeved out. Not anymore ❤ You're fantastic at explaining this. Thankyou thankyou