AxiaLIF ? Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion (AxiaLIF) is a new surgical procedure that is used to treat painful disc degeneration or spondylolisthesis in the lower discs of the spine near the tailbone. In an AxiaLIF procedure, the surgeon removes the center of the diseased disc, replacing it with bone growth material that will cause the structure to fuse over time as new bone grows in the space.

What is the procedure?

In an AxiaLIF procedure, your surgeon will make a 1-inch incision next to your tailbone. Using specialized instruments that are passed through a tube into the disc space, disc material is then removed. Once the area has been cleared of disc debris, your surgeon inserts a bone graft into the space where the disc was. Usually this graft is a screw-like cage that is combined with bone. The implant restores any height that has been lost to degenerative disc disease.

In some cases the surgeon will add some hardware to provide you with additional stabilization and to promote healing.

The average AxiaLIF procedure takes about 45 minutes.

What should I expect after an AxiaLIF procedure?

Because the procedure is minimally invasive, you will find that your healing process is greatly reduced and there is less pain. In most cases you will be able to go home from the hospital in as little as 24 hours and be back to work in as little as 15 days.