Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Techniques, Pearls and Pitfalls

1. Surgical techniques

PLIF was one of the first techniques employed for LIF. Surgical access to the intervertebral disc is achieved via a posterior approach. The procedure begins with proper positioning, which is essential in obtaining the favorable outcomes. The patient rests in the prone position on an operation table in hypertension to help create lumbar lordosis. Several positions such as knee-chest position or a Jackson table are also available. An important aspect of either position is the elimination of the abdominal pressure; this action decompresses the epidural venous plexus and helps in reducing the intraoperative bleeding. The classic PLIF procedure includes the application of an open midline approach to subperiosteally expose the spinous process, laminae, facets, and transverse process of the involved segments. The pedicle screws are placed either before or after a laminectomy. If placed first, pedicle screws can be used to distract the intervertebral space during PLIF. A wide laminectomy is usually performed to resect the caudal two-thirds of the rostral vertebra’s lamina [4,9]. The superior edge of the rostral vertebra’s lamina should be preserved to maintain the posterior ligamentous complex to the adjacent rostral vertebra. Bony resection can be extended laterally to perform the complete or partial excision of the inferior and superior articular processes. The facets should always be excised completely to correct deformity [10]. Once ligamentum flavum is removed and the thecal sac is exposed, the thecal sac and traversing nerve root are retracted at both sides medially to access the intervertebral disc space. Thereafter, annulotomy, discectomy, and endplate preparation are serially performed. Only the cartilaginous endplates, but not the bony endplates, should be removed to prevent the graft subsidence. In most cases, the anterior annulus prevents the anterior protrusion of implants, but the anterior annulus is sometimes deficient, especially in spondylolisthesis. It is helpful to mark the shaver or the curettes so that they are not inserted past a depth of 30 mm [10]. After cleaning the intervertebral space, it is measured using trial spacers and the cage or bone graft is inserted into the interspace through each of the two annulotomy procedures. Finally, supplemental pedicle screw and rod constructs are applied.

2. Pearls and pitfalls

PLIF is a traditional lumbar approach that allows access to both the anterior and posterior columns with one incision. PLIF is performed using the most common posterior approach, which is familiar to most of the spine surgeons. Another advantage of PLIF is the excellent visualization of neural structures, which allows bilateral decompression [11,12]. However, PLIF also has inherent disadvantages. Spine surgeons must remember the existence of anatomical variations, such as a spina bifida occulta or a usually wide interlaminar space. These abnormalities should be identified before the surgery to avoid inadvertent injury to the dura or nerve roots. PLIF inevitably causes paraspinal muscle injury because of the surgical approach and prolonged muscle retraction [13]. Additionally, PLIF requires a more retraction of thecal sac and nerve roots to achieve an adequate surgical exposure of intervertebral space [14-17]. Because of this concern, PLIF is usually limited to the lower lumbar level (L3–S1) to avoid damage to the cord. Nevertheless, this retraction injury of nerve root may induce fibrosis and chronic radiculopathy. Additionally, the retraction of dura may pose an increased risk of durotomy, especially during the revision surgery [18].

Current treatment guidelines are mainly based on level III studies, and there is a paucity of level I or II studies. Acceptable indications for PLIF include degenerative disk disease, lumbar segment instability, spondylolisthesis, degenerative scoliosis, pseudarthrosis, and recurrent disk herniation [9,19]. The neural structures including dura and nerve roots should be mobilized to access the disk space. Therefore, severe epidural fibrosis is a contraindication to PLIF. Other contraindications may include arachnoiditis, active infections, and severe osteoporosis.

1. Surgical techniques

In 1982, Harms and Rolinger [6] introduced TLIF as an alternative to PLIF for the management of degenerative spine diseases [7]. In the early 2000s, Foley et al. [20,21] introduced MIS-TLIF as a possible alternative to reduce the approach-related complications. The basic concept of TLIF is accessing the intervertebral disc space on a more lateral trajectory than PLIF [22]. The patient positioning is same as those for PLIF. In a traditional open TLIF, a posterior midline incision is introduced for the subperiosteal exposure of the spinous process, laminae, facets, and transverse process of the involved segments. MIS-TLIF is performed based on a Wiltse-type approach using an expandable tubular retractor to access the posterior elements. A 3-cm longitudinal incision is made 2–3 cm lateral to the midline. To access the intervertebral space, the pars interarticularis is identified and resected. Thereafter, facetectomy of the superior and inferior facets of the levels to be fused is performed, thereby providing access to the Kambin’s triangle (Fig. 2). The traversing nerve root is retracted medially, and discectomy is then performed in a standard fashion, followed by endplate preparation. Next, a trial may be used to verify the cage size, and intervertebral cage with morselized autologous or allogeneic bone graft is placed within the disk space. Depending on the preference of the surgeon, the pedicle screws are placed either before or after the TLIF procedure.

Fig. 2.

Kambin’s triangle is a safe transforaminal corridor to the intervertebral disc, bordered medially by the traversing nerve root and thecal sac, anteriorly by the exiting nerve root, and inferiorly by the cranial endplate of the caudal vertebra.

2. Pearls and pitfalls

TLIF can provide a fusion of 360° with a single incision. However, the most significant advantage of TLIF, compared to PLIF, is achieving a more lateral access to the disk, thus reducing retraction on the neural elements. TLIF can be safely conducted even at the upper lumbar segments. Therefore, it appears that in TLIF, the lesser dural exposure may have a lower risk of durotomy than PLIF [23]. Compared to PLIF, TLIF can cause less damage on the posterior ligamentous complex and preserve biomechanical stability. In the biomechanical studies, TLIF seems to show comparable results with PLIF [24,25]. Additionally, TLIF may be preferable in the revision cases, because the lateral access may avoid the postoperative scar tissue on the posterior approach [26-28]. Recently, MIS techniques have gained popularity because these techniques may show favorable results such as reduced blood loss and muscle injury, operative time, and an early postoperative recovery than the traditional open techniques [23,29-34].

The pitfall is that TLIF, especially with open techniques, may cause considerable paraspinal muscle injury associated with prolonged muscle retraction. Another theoretical pitfall of TLIF is that it is impossible to completely remove the disk materials because only a unilateral approach is performed [10,35]. McAfee et al. [36] showed that the fusion rate following ALIF decreased in the patients with incomplete discectomy than in the patients with complete discectomy. Despite this concern, no prospective randomized comparison has been reported. Although MIS-TLIF may reduce postoperative morbidities, it seems to have the learning curve [37-39].

Indications and contraindications for TLIF are similar to those for PLIF. Indications include all the degenerative disk diseases, lumbar segment instability, spondylolisthesis, degenerative scoliosis, pseudarthrosis, and recurrent disk herniation. Contraindications include epidural scar, arachnoiditis, active infections, and severe osteoporosis. Additionally, nerve root anomaly is a relative contraindication because it can increase the risk of iatrogenic nerve injury in the nerve roots.

1. Surgical techniques

A detailed patient evaluation is required before the consideration of ALIF procedure. Additionally, a history for abdominal surgery or radiation therapy should also be obtained. It is recommended that the area of interest should be evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography scans preoperatively to carefully review the vascular structures along with the lumbosacral spine (Fig. 3) [40-42]. Both retroperitoneal and transperitoneal approaches are available for ALIF [43]. Because the transperitoneal approach has been associated with higher rates of bowel injury, ileus, and retrograde ejaculation, and is limited at the L5–S1 segment, many spine surgeons favor a retroperitoneal approach [43-45]. Therefore, retroperitoneal approach will be discussed in this review.

Fig. 3.

Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography can help evaluate the accessibility for anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

The patient is kept in a true supine position for L4–5 and L5–S1 levels. It may be helpful to position the patient slightly in a right lateral decubitus position to access the multiple levels of the lumbar spine, especially higher levels. The usual approach is initiated from the patient’s left side, since the aorta is more robust than the vena cava. The hip-flexed position is helpful in relaxing the iliopsoas during retraction. Incisions may vary according to the levels. The skin incision may be either medial horizontal (Pfannenstiel) for L5–S1 or medial vertical. Longitudinal incision may present a higher risk of rectus abdominis denervation and atonia. With careful inspection and gentle finger dissection, the transversalis fascia and arcuate line are identified and detached from the lateral abdominal wall. Once the transversalis fascia is incised, the peritoneal sac is moved medially to access the retroperitoneal space via blunt dissection. If the peritoneum is opened, then it should be immediately closed using absorbable 3-0 or 4-0 sutures to prevent postoperative hernia. The landmark to be palpated is the psoas muscle, along with the pulsation of the common iliac artery. The next landmark is L5–S1 disk and sacral promontory. At L5–S1 level, the middle sacral vessels should be cauterized. In front of L5–S1 disk, the autonomic nerves exist and may be damaged by monopolar electrocautery, thereby leading to autonomic dysfunction. At L4–5 level, the left common iliac artery and vein must be mobilized from left to right. Additionally, the left iliolumbar vein can be encountered at L5. It should be ligated before mobilizing the left common iliac vein to avoid tethering or massive bleeding [45,46].

After the confirmation of the correct level, anterior annulotomy, discectomy, and endplate preparation are performed serially. The excessive depth of discectomy should be avoided. If the dorsal annulus fibrosus is violated, then epidural bleeding or a cerebrospinal fluid leak can occur. Finally, a trial may be used to verify the cage size, and intervertebral cage with morselized autologous or allogeneic bone graft is placed within the disk space.

2. Pearls and pitfalls

The benefits of ALIF include a less traumatic access than posterior approaches, resulting in less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays [47-49]. The posterior elements of the spine such as ligaments and muscles may be preserved [50]. However, the opposite results, complication rates including surgical site infection, and nerve injury seem to be lower after ALIF [48,51,52]. Above all, ALIF can use large interbody grafts, which provide a significant biomechanical advantage than other LIFs [53]. Recently, the importance of sagittal balance has been increasingly recognized among researchers. The potential to gain a sagittal alignment may increase with more lordotic cages placed at the lower lumbar spine [54-58]. This action can be achieved by ALIF in the lower lumbar spine [57,59].

The pitfalls of ALIF include the requirement of great vessel mobilization, which may lead to deep vein thrombosis and a direct injury [60]. There are possible risks for abdominal organ and ureter injury, along with incisional hernia [60]. Injury to hypogastric plexus can occur and result in retrograde ejaculation in up to 45% of men [52,61,62]. Approach-related sympathectomy symptoms, such as vasodilation in the ipsilateral leg, usually occur, but almost always resolve spontaneously in the first three to six months after surgery [48,63].

Proper patient selection is an important prerequisite for a successful ALIF procedure. Surgical indications for ALIF procedure are degenerative disk disease, failed posterior fusion, or postoperative spondylodiscitis. Additionally, ALIF may be suitable for the surgical management of sagittal plane deformities. Contraindications of ALIF are morbid obesity, prior abdominal surgery, prior radiation therapy, and severe aortic atherosclerosis.

1. Surgical techniques

In 2006, Ozgur et al. [64] were the first ones to describe the MIS-LLIF technique, also called transpsoas. The corridor for LLIF is limited superiorly by the 11th or 12th rib and inferiorly by the iliac crest. With LLIF, the access is possible at from L1–2 to L4–5 [10]. Before positioning, the appropriate electromyography (EMG) monitoring leads should be placed. The table must be radiolucent and have capabilities to break Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, and tilt positions. The LLIF procedure begins with the patient lying in either the left or right lateral decubitus position. The hip and knees are flexed. The table may be bent to position the iliac crest away for accessing L4–5. The patients are taped carefully. After the completion of initial positioning, intraoperative fluoroscopy is used to establish a true anteroposterior and lateral plane to the disk. A lateral incision is introduced and the abdominal musculature is bluntly dissected. The retroperitoneal space is identified by the presence of a yellow fat tissue deep into the transversalis muscle. Blunt finger dissection is used to sweep the peritoneal sac anteriorly (Fig. 4). Posteriorly, the quadratus lumborum is palpated; the medial movement allows the surgeon to encounter the transverse process. Medial to the transverse process, the round psoas muscle is palpated. EMG monitoring is used within psoas to avoid lumbar plexus [65]. Lateral fluoroscopy is utilized to ensure that the correct level is being accessed and the trajectory will be in a safe zone (Fig. 5) [66]. Sequential dilators are placed on the psoas muscle, and the tubular retractor is introduced. After the dissection of muscle fibers, the disk space is identified and annulotomy is performed. A Cobb elevator is placed into the disk space and malleted under fluoroscopy until the contralateral annulus is disrupted. A box cutter disc shaver is used to perform discectomy. During the steps of using a Cobb elevator and a shaver, it is essential to avoid endplate violation. Next, pituitary rongeur is used to remove the free disc fragments. After endplate preparation using a ring curette, an interbody graft packed with the surgeon’s choice of biologics is inserted into the disc space. The operating table is leveled to relieve the tension of abdominal wall for skin closure.

Fig. 4.

A schematic illustration of blunt finger dissection during lateral lumbar interbody fusion. All of the peritoneal contents are swept anteriorly to avoid visceral damages.

Fig. 5.

With protection of peritoneal sac using a finger, a probe is inserted to the disc through a transpsoas approach (A). Next, lateral fluoroscopy is used to confirm the correct trajectory (B).

2. Pearls and pitfalls

MIS-LLIF has shown promising outcomes in minimizing the approach-related morbidity. It can minimize soft tissue injury, decrease blood loss, and shorten hospital stay while maintaining the equivalent or improved clinical and radiographic outcomes as compared to the open procedures [67-69]. Sagittal and coronal deformity correction can be performed with large and lordotic cages [70-74]. Additionally, LLIF has been shown to increase the height of foramen and the surface of central canal, thus achieving indirect decompression [73,75,76]. However, the disadvantages of LLIF include injury to the psoas muscle, lumbar plexus, or bowel [74,77]. Approach-sided lower extremity weakness and paresthesia can also occur [74,77]. Furthermore, researchers have also reported incisional hernia and vascular injury [78].

The LLIF procedure is suitable for degenerative diseases that require the restoration of the disc height [56]. Moreover, the correction of spondylolisthesis or scoliosis is one of the most popular indications [70,73,79]. LLIF has particular advantages in the revision cases such as adjacent segment disease or post-laminectomy disease, wherein an open decompression has a high durotomy rate [74,80]. Contraindications are mostly secondary conditions that impede safe lateral approaches, such as prior retroperitoneal surgery, infection, or radiation therapy history. The L5–S1 disc is a contraindication to LLIF because the iliac wing precludes its lateral access [10]. In high-grade spondylolisthesis, the more anterior exiting nerve root is traversed horizontally, the more it is difficult to place the interbody graft. LLIF is also contraindicated if direct decompression is required, such as congenital stenosis, lateral recess stenosis, or sequestrated disc [10].

1. Surgical techniques

OLIF is an alternative to LLIF to overcome its complications. It accesses the intervertebral disc space between the psoas muscle and the aorta/inferior vena cava (IVC) to reduce the risk of injury to muscle and lumbar plexus. Therefore, surgeons should evaluate whether the width of the bare area is sufficient for OLIF on the preoperative imaging studies. Mayer first described OLIF, also known as anterior-to-psoas or prepsoas, in 1997 [81]. Patient positioning and setup for OLIF are nearly same to those for LLIF; however, there are some differences. Although LLIF allows either left- or right-side approaches, OLIF should use a left-side approach because a working passage between IVC and psoas muscle is much narrow and risky than a right-side approach [82]. Transverse skin incisions are made centered on the anterior margin of the disc. The blunt dissection of abdominal wall and retroperitoneal space is same as those for LLIF. The oblique working corridor is established by the anterior retraction of the peritoneum and slight posterior retraction of the psoas muscle (Fig. 6). Because lumbar plexus is located within the psoas muscle, neuromonitoring is not needed [66]. The next sequential steps are similar to those of LLIF. However, any instruments used during OLIF should be introduced into the disc with the orthogonal maneuver to avoid the injury of contralateral nerve root.

Fig. 6.

An oblique corridor to access the disc space: a probe (A) and retractors (B) are placed between abdominal aorta and the psoas muscle.

2. Pearls and pitfalls

One of the important advantages of OLIF is the lack of any specific need for intraoperative neuromonitoring [66]. Moreover, the psoas muscle injury can be avoided. The surgical oblique view during OLIF is much favorable for the surgeons as compared to LLIF, which only allows a vertical view. Similar to LLIF, OLIF can provide indirect neural decompression and deformity correction [29,56,83,84]. Meta-analyses have showed that the risks of ipsilateral hip flexor weakness, transient thigh pain, and lumbar plexus injury are lower in OLIF than in LLIF [77,85,86]. However, the risk of vascular injury can increase because of the proximity of OLIF to the vessels as compared to LLIF [77,86]. Another complication of OLIF is sympathetic injury because sympathetic chains exit on the working window [77,86]. One of the key differences is the anatomical accessibility to L5–S1. Although LLIF is contraindicated, OLIF can target L5–S1.

Indications and contraindications are similar to those for LLIF. OLIF is suitable for degenerative lumbar diseases including sagittal and coronal deformity, similar to LLIF. Revision surgery is also one of the most popular surgical indications. OLIF is not suitable if direct decompression is required.

1. Surgical techniques

Endoscopic TLIF is performed using the biportal endoscopy systems, which include a console, camera, endoscopy irrigation equipment, and tool kits [88,90]. Additionally, a radiofrequency (RF) console and RF probes are needed for tissue cauterization and bleeding control. The patient positioning is same as those for PLIF or TLIF. Two paramedian skin incision are made over the ipsilateral pedicles [91]. Two channels, one working and one endoscopic channel, are created through these two skin incisions. The ipsilateral laminectomy and facetectomy are performed using drill, Kerrison punches, or osteotomes. After the ligamentum flavum is removed, the ipsilateral nerve roots can be visualized. The next steps are similar to those of TLIF. Discectomy and endplate preparation are performed with the aid of the endoscopic channel. The autograft and interbody cage are placed through the working portal. Finally, the percutaneous pedicle screws are inserted bilaterally.

2. Pearls and pitfalls

Because endoscopic LIF has been recently introduced, there is still not enough evidence about the pros and cons of its surgical outcomes and complications. Previous studies have reported promising postoperative outcomes [91- 93]. Some reports have shown that endoscopic LIF yielded lesser postoperative pain and shorter hospital stay than MIS-TLIF [94]. Moreover, despite the benefits of endoscopic LIF, there are inevitable obstacles to overcome and surgeons should reach the learning curve [92,95-97].

Considering a benefit of endoscopic LIF based on the previous reports, proper indications include patients, particularly the elderly, who are unable to tolerate open fusion surgery because of the risk of complications [92]. Clinical indications/contraindications for endoscopic LIF are evolving, but are now thought to be the same as those for MIS-fusion surgery [92].