Triangle Spine and Back Care Center

Spinal Procedures

Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion - The AxiaLIF® Procedure

Your Surgical Options - Spinal Fusion

Each year more than 15 million Americans suffer from low back pain. Most conditions are treated with conservative therapy, however surgery may be necessary when all other options have failed.

This means that non-surgical treatment methods such as physical therapy, medication and other preventive measures have been pursued but the condition has stayed the same or worsened. A percentage of patients will be candidates for fusion surgery and recent advances in minimally invasive techniques have revolutionized back surgery.

AxiaLIF®, a procedure that spares all of the muscles, nerves, and soft tissue while stablizing the spine, is the least invasive surgical option for lumbar fusion surgery. By sparing this vital tissue, patients have shorter hospital stays and return to their daily activities faster.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery, or MIS, offers the following benefits:

• • Less likelihood of post-operative conditions normally associated with traditional procedures
• • Reduction of blood loss during surgery
• • Less post-operative pain
• • A rapid return to normal daily activities
• • A shorter hospital stay
• • Less pain medication required

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. However, when compared to other fusion procedures which enter your spine through the abdomen (ALIF) or directly through the back (PLIF), AxiaLIF has less risks. The new AxiaLIF® approach allows the surgeon to access the lumbar spine with no need to bypass vital nerves, arteries or muscle, and no need to strip back muscles from your spine to get to the diseased disc. This sparing of soft tissue and muscle provides less risks and complications after your surgery.

About the AxiaLIF® Procedure: What is AxiaLIF®?

AxiaLIF® stands for Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion - a new, alternative approach to traditional fusion procedures.

The surgeon accesses your low back through a 1-inch incision next to your tailbone. The center of the diseased disc is removed, and bone growth material is inserted in its place. This material helps stimulate bone growth over time in order to “fuse.” (Fusion - the joining together of two or more vertebra.)

The AxiaLIF® implant is inserted to distract the two vertebrae, meaning that any height lost from Degenerative Disc Disease is restored to its original, healthy disc height.

Your physician may or may not add posterior hardware for further stabilization of your spine after the AxiaLIF® procedure has been performed.

Because this surgical procedure is minimally invasive compared with traditional fusion procedures, recovery time is significantly reduced in many cases. For a traditional fusion surgery, the average length of stay is four days. AxiaLIF® length of stay is typically one to two days. Some AxiaLIF® procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and patients go home on the day of surgery.

The AxiaLIF® portion of the procedure carries only one scar which is about one-inch long and located next to your tailbone. Depending on your doctor, you may have further stabilization in your spine that would require one or two small vertical scars down each side of your back. Ask your doctor about posterior instrumentation such as facet screws or pedicle screws which further stabilize your spine after the AxiaLIF® procedure is performed.

For a video demonstration of this procedure, see our videos page. For more information regarding the AxiaLIF® Procedure visit www.samedaysurgery4u.com.

For a consultation concerning treatment options about the AxiaLIF® Procedure, please contact Triangle Spine and Back Care Center℠ at 919-876-7676.