There are a number of benefits to ALIF and Mini ALIF over traditional posterior approaches to spinal fusion surgery or back surgery.
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ALIF back surgery avoids cutting the posterior muscles around your spine. Since there’s no damage to the back muscles, patients typically enjoy a shorter, less painful recovery time than with other spinal fusion techniques
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During Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery (PLIF), the nerves in the back of your spine are manipulated to allow access to the disc space. ALIF means there’s no need to interfere with these nerves, which again means a more comfortable recovery with less chance of nerve damage or bruising
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With a Mini ALIF, the abdominal muscles are not cut, reducing your recovery time even further.
Why ALIF Spine Surgery?
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Am I a candidate for ALIF or Spinal Fusion Surgery in Phoenix?
ALIF, ESPECIALLY MINI ALIF, IS AN EXCELLENT SURGICAL OPTION FOR CERTAIN SPINAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE, SPONDYLOLISTHESIS AND SCOLIOSIS, OR OTHER CONDITIONS WHICH DO NOT RESPOND TO PHYSICAL THERAPY OR NON-SURGICAL INTERVENTION.
IT IS NOT THE BEST OPTION FOR PATIENTS WITH PRIOR SIGNIFICANT ABDOMINAL SURGERY, CERTAIN VASCULAR CONDITIONS, OR SEVERE OSTEOPOROSIS. AS ALWAYS, DR. BAIG WILL NOT PERFORM ANY FORM OF BACK SURGERY UNLESS HE IS CERTAIN IT WILL HELP YOU. NOT EVERYONE IS A CANDIDATE FOR ALIF OR MINI ALIF. A CONSULTATION WITH DR. BAIG DURING YOUR RESEARCH FOR PHOENIX SPINAL FUSION SURGERIES IS THE BEST WAY TO FIND AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PLAN FOR YOUR BACK PAIN AND RELATED SYMPTOMS.
Get maximum relief with minimal risk
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
SPINE PROCEDURES
ENDOSCOPIC
SPINE SURGERY
STEREOTACTIC
SPINE PROCEDURES
NON-SURGICAL
TREATMENT OPTIONS
WE DIAGNOSE THE ROOT
Chronic back pain can be debilitating and leave you feeling hopeless. When Craig wasn’t getting the care he felt he deserved, he reached out to Dr. Baig to get the help he needed.
Unfortunately, this is a common problem: People suffering from back pain see a doctor, get diagnosed with some type of “chronic” condition, obtain a prescription and perhaps go to a few physical therapy appointments. They feel a bit better for a time, but the root of the problem is never diagnosed or properly treated. This is how back pain can become chronic, and this is why people ultimately seek the help of Desert Spine and Scoliosis center, expert back surgeons in Phoenix.
Dr. Baig, one of the most respected back surgeons in Phoenix, helped Craig identify his problem by relying on his years of expertise as a spine specialist in Phoenix. With the proper treatment, Craig’s condition improved and he was able to get back into life without the terrible pain that had dragged him down for so long. This is what patients should reasonably expect from our team of Phoenix spine surgeons.
SUCCESS STORIES
For an active 39 year old who participates in Jiujitsu, having a spinal fusion would not have been the right thing for her. We were able to get her back on the mat after a successful disc replacement and she is back living her life
NO MORE BACK PAIN!
For an active young mom, having a spinal fusion was out of the question.
She was back in the gym THE SAME DAY after she had an Endoscopic Decompression. Dr. Baig and is living life
PAIN FREE!
This personal trainer got a cervical disc replacement.
She was able to avoid a fusion, keep her her range of motion, and get back
into the gym
PAIN FREE!
WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY
We wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our patients who take the time to leave a review about their experience at our practice.
Your kind words and feedback are greatly appreciated by our entire team, and your review helps other patients make an informed decision about where to turn to for care.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with others. You are making a difference.
T.M. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig and his team are phenomenal. I had a compressed nerve due to a bulging disc and was able to be seen relatively quickly. Surgery was quick and flawless and I have no complaints at all. I truly appreciated how fast they worked to get me seen and out of all the pain I was in! Highly recommend them."
A.H. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig literally changed my life for the better. I had a severely pinched nerve in my neck and needed to get surgery. Immediately at my first consult I felt comfortable and in good hands. I even walked away with a smile on my face during that scary time.
Surgery day couldn’t have gone better. The team he had also had a great bedside manner and helped keep me calm.
After the surgery and in the recovery room, he came in and checked on me and made sure I was all good before releasing me."
S.D. ~ Actual Patient
"Dr Baig was going to be my second opinion for an upcoming scheduled spinal surgery. After my appointment, he will be my surgeon. He gave me a lot of information that was lacking from my other doctors. I felt very comfortable with Dr Baig and his entire office staff. Looking forward to living pain free after we strengthen my bones. It’s going to be a permanent fix and not a bandaid."
Consult Our Back Surgeons in Phoenix
Back pain can often be a result of an accident, injury, or congenital conditions such as scoliosis. Certain forms of back pain can be a result of the natural aging process, including conditions such as disc protrusion and spinal stenosis.
Today, advancements in imaging, and non surgical techniques have led to more treatment options than ever before, allowing us to return our patients the life they once knew…usually without the need for invasive spine surgery.
Typically, back surgeons in Phoenix offer one type of help, even though there are many others available. When you work with Dr. Baig at the Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, you can rest assured that everything is on the table when it comes to potential treatments that are accepted by the medical world.
CONTACT US
LOCATIONS
Conservative care you can trust, with multiple locations in the valley!
Just how ‘minimal’ is minimally invasive spine surgery?
Book your appointment today and we'll be happy to educate you!
As a top-rated spine specialist, Dr. Baig understands that this complicated part of the body can lead to many different problems, and each possibility will be considered before deciding on a treatment protocol.
Get answers, get help, get back to a better quality of life––schedule an appointment today.
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ANTERIOR LUMBAR INTERBODY FUSION (ALIF) SURGERY
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) is a type of spinal fusion surgery. If you’re suffering from a condition such as degenerative disc disease, ALIF back surgery can ease your symptoms by reducing the amount of motion around problematic areas of your spine. If you’re researching options for Phoenix spinal fusion surgery, read on.
ALIF spine surgery is a less invasive form of spinal fusion surgery. It is generally performed at lumbar spine level to correct defects at the L4-S1 disc spaces. “Anterior” refers to the surgeon’s approach–through the front. Accessing the spine through the front of the body means that no back muscles need to be dissected, which results in a faster, easier recovery with less pain.
WHILE OPEN ALIF SURGERY REQUIRES THE CUTTING OF SOME ABDOMINAL MUSCLES, DR. BAIG IS ALSO SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED AT MINIMALLY INVASIVE ALIF (MINI ALIF), WHICH USES MUCH SMALLER INCISIONS THAT PRESERVE THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES.
NOT EVERYONE IS A CANDIDATE FOR ALIF. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SPINAL FUSION SURGERY IN PHOENIX, DR. BAIG CAN ADVISE YOU WHETHER THE PROCEDURE IS SUITABLE BASED ON YOUR CONDITION.
Because an anterior approach involves working around major blood vessels, ALIF spinal fusion surgery is always performed with the support of a vascular surgeon. Dr. Baig has performed numerous successful spinal fusion surgeries in Phoenix, including both ALIF and Mini ALIF, in partnership with excellent vascular surgeons.
What happens during ALIF surgery?
The goal of ALIF is the same as other lumbar interbody fusion surgeries such as XLIF, TLIF and PLIF – controlling painful ranges of motion and restoring a proper spinal alignment as far as possible.
ALIF back surgery, or lumbar spinal fusion surgery, involves an incision at the front of the body. Through this incision, Dr. Baig can access the damaged lumbar vertebrae by retracting the abdominal muscles, organs and blood vessels. An experienced vascular surgeon will assist with mobilizing large blood vessels.
Damaged disc material is removed, and an interbody implant is placed in the empty disc space to restore disc height and maintain proper spinal curvature. Bone graft material is used to fill in the rest of the disc space and to fuse adjacent vertebrae together. Screws, rods or plates may be used for added stability, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Your recovery time will vary depending on your medical status and whether you had open ALIF or Mini ALIF. Dr. Baig can provide more information on your predicted lumbar spinal fusion recovery time
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