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The XLIF® Procedure

The XLIF® Procedure

The XLIF Surgical Procedure

After you have been positioned, an X-ray will be taken to help your doctor precisely locate the operative space. Next, your skin will be marked at the site where the two small incisions will be made. Your surgeon will use the latest instrumentation to access the spine in a minimally disruptive manner. Disc preparation is the next step. This is done by removing the disc tissue which will allow the bones to be fused together. Several X-rays will be taken during this stage to ensure the preparation is correct. Once the disc has been prepared, the surgeon will then place a stabilizing implant into the space to restore the disc height and enable the spine to once again support necessary loads. Once in position, a final X-ray will be taken to confirm correct implant placement. In the event that further stabilization is necessary, the surgeon may choose to insert additional screws, rods, or plates into the vertebrae.

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The Better Way Back™ is a patient support and advocacy program, developed and funded by NuVasive®, Inc., for patients suffering from chronic back or leg pain. Its mission is to provide hope, education, and support to the millions of patients suffering from spine disorders, and motivate them to seek treatment and live their lives successfully and free of pain. Learn more about The Better Way Back and its resources by visiting www.thebetterwayback.org.

The Society of Lateral Access Surgery (SOLAS®) is a surgeon-driven organization, created by and supported with funding from NuVasive®, Inc. The intent of SOLAS is to foster research, training initiatives, and peer-to-peer communication that help define and advance the science and art of lateral access surgery and particularly, the XLIF® technique. Learn more about SOLAS at www.lateralaccess.org.