Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
is an innovative approach to spine fusion, accessing the spine from the
side of the body instead of the front or back like traditional methods.
The comparable advance of XLIF are: there are no major
organs to
avoid (as with the anterior approach). There's no need to strip away
large groups of muscles or cut through nerves (as with the posterior or
posterolateral approach). The benefits of a minimally invasive approach
of this type include
decreased blood loss, shorter operative time and hospital stay, and less postoperative pain. Patients recover faster.
