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Extreme Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery (XLIF)
Extreme Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (XLIF) is a minimally invasive form of spinal fusion surgery. XLIF spine surgery helps to stabilize and correct more severe forms of lumbar spine damage while reducing the tissue damage and healing time. XLIF back surgery can be less invasive than other spinal fusion surgical techniques, depending on the exact procedure.
XLIF fusion surgery is normally considered when patients are experiencing back or radicular pain which fails to respond to more conversative treatments, such as pain management and physical therapy. It involves removing the problematic disc between spinal segments and replacing it with a bone graft implant to stabilize the spine and “fuse” vertebrae together.
XLIF BACK SURGERY IS NOT AN OPTION FOR EVERYONE. FOR EXAMPLE, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE SPINAL INSTABILITY, OTHER STRUCTURES MAY PREVENT LATERAL ACCESS FOR SPINAL SURGERY.
BUT IF YOU ARE A GOOD CANDIDATE, XLIF CAN HAVE YOU BACK ON YOUR FEET BY THE EVENING OF YOUR SURGERY AND HOME THE NEXT DAY. XLIF IS TRULY REVOLUTIONARY IN TERMS OF SPINAL FUSION SURGERY, AND DR. BAIG IS SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED IN PERFORMING IT. FOR XLIF SPINE SURGERY IN PHOENIX, CONTACT US TODAY.
This type of back surgery does not need to be performed using minimally-invasive techniques. When this form of spinal fusion surgery is done as an open (not minimally invasive) surgery, it is referred to as Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF).
What happens during XLIF?
You’ll be placed under general anesthesia for the procedure and moved onto your side. Dr. Baig will make two small incisions in your side to access the affected vertebrae and insert the surgical instruments. Real-time X-ray imaging and nerve monitoring are used for visualization and to protect spinal nerves close to the disc space. Dr. Baig will remove the damaged spinal disc and replace it with an implant. Bone graft material is used to fuse the vertebrae together for stability. In some cases, screws, plates or rods may be needed, depending on the severity of the damage.
Why XLIF?
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BENEFITS TO XLIF SPINE SURGERY, MOSTLY BECAUSE IT IS LESS INVASIVE THAN MORE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF SPINAL FUSION SURGERY. THE MAIN DIFFERENCES ARE THAT THE SPINE IS ACCESSED THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE BODY RATHER THAN THE FRONT OR THE BACK, AND THE SURGERY ITSELF IS DONE THROUGH SMALLER INCISIONS USING REAL-TIME X-RAY IMAGING AND NERVE MONITORING.
Benefits of XLIF include:
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Shorter surgery. XLIF Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery can be completed in just an hour, which reduces the time under general anesthesia.
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Less blood loss and scarring. Because the incisions are smaller and no muscle is dissected, you will bleed less. You will also have less noticeable scars.
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Less pain. By accessing your spine through the side rather than the back, back muscles and ligaments are spared and recovery is significantly quicker and more comfortable.
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Shorter hospital stay. Many XLIF patients go home the next day, unlike with traditional spinal fusion surgery which requires several days of immobility and hospitalization.
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Faster recovery. XLIF patients are fully recovered within a few months. Traditional spinal fusion surgery has a recovery period of six months or more.
Am I a candidate for XLIF?
Not everyone is a suitable candidate for XLIF surgery. XLIF surgery may be an option if you have spinal damage such as:
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Degenerative scoliosis
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Recurrent disc herniations
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Spondylolisthesis
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Disc generation
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Some forms of lumbar stenosis
As XLIF surgery means accessing the spinal structures from the side, it’s not suitable for some L4-L5 injuries, or L5-S1 injuries (this segment is behind the pelvis)
XLIF IS AN EXCELLENT SURGICAL OPTION FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPINE DAMAGE, INCLUDING DISC DEGENERATION, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU. AS ALWAYS, DR. BAIG WILL NOT PERFORM ANY FORM OF BACK SURGERY UNLESS HE IS CERTAIN IT WILL HELP YOU. A CONSULTATION WITH DR. BAIG IS THE BEST WAY TO FIND AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PLAN FOR YOUR BACK PAIN AND RELATED SYMPTOMS.
To discuss the best options for XLIF spine surgery in Phoenix, contact us today.
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.
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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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