ALIF
surgery
in Mumbai
ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) is a procedure to treat lower back issues. It fuses a couple of bones or more to realign them and stop painful motion. Your healthcare provider might suggest this procedure to align bones that are causing leg or back pain. Read on to learn more about ALIF surgery in Mumbai.
What is an ALIF surgery?
This is a spinal surgery where the spine is accessed from the front side instead of the back. It is carried out through your abdomen, generally with the help of a vascular surgeon to move the major blood vessels. The procedure involves disc removal, so the pressure on your nerves can be eased. Then, a bone graft is put in the empty space to restore the height and stop the nerves from getting pinched.
Based on your symptoms, a single-level or multiple-level fusion might be carried out. A single level fuses two bones, whereas a multiple level fuses more than two bones. It can give you spinal flexibility.
What are the benefits of an ALIF surgery in Mumbai?
An ALIF surgery in Mumbai has many benefits, such as:
- A large spacer device is used to give more support and improve the chance of fusion.
- The spine's path is from the front side, which causes less disruption and pain to your back muscles.
- It helps with faster recovery.
- To prevent several surgeries in a particular area.
- ALIF allows your surgeon to avoid operating around your spinal nerves.
ALIF surgery in Mumbai is generally carried out in a hospital setting. You can return home after a day or two of surgery. The recovery duration is around six to twelve weeks.
Who is an ideal candidate for ALIF surgery in Mumbai?
You might be an ideal candidate for ALIF surgery in Mumbai if you have:
- Spondylolisthesis
- Degenerative spine disease
- Flat back or scoliosis syndrome
- If your spinal pain has not been relieved with medications or physiotherapy
ALIF surgery in Mumbai might help treat- spinal stenosis
When your nerve root canal or spinal canal gets smaller and your ligaments pinch your nerves, your facet joints get bigger. This makes your legs feel numb and hurt.
What is the procedure for an ALIF surgery in Mumbai?
The ALIF surgery in Mumbai usually takes one to two hours, depending on the severity of your spine condition.
Step 1- Prepare the patient
Initially, local anesthesia will be injected, and you will be laid on the table. After you are asleep, your belly is cleaned and prepared.
Step 2- Make the cuts
Image guidance or x-ray fluoroscopy is utilized to plan the further procedure. Your surgeon makes a 2 or 3-inch cut inside your belly at a certain disc level.
Step 3- Detect the damaged disc
Your surgeon carefully clears a path between the retroperitoneal space and the abdominal cavity. Your intestines are secured with the help of the peritoneum sac, which is placed on the right side of your belly. The arteries and veins covering the damaged discs are carefully held and moved inside.
Step 4- Disc removal
Now, your surgeon removes the infected disc. The number of discs removed is determined by the number of infected spinal levels. A distractor tool is inserted to get access to the collapsed disc. The fusion bed is prepared by the bone shaver.
Step 5- Prepare the disc space
The accessible disc is measured, and the size of the space is selected. The trial spacer is placed in the vacant disc space. An x-ray is performed to make sure that the placement, wedge angle, and depth create enough height and release pressure from the nerves.
Once a good fit is achieved, the bone graft is prepared for the next step.
Step 6- Insert the bone graft
With the help of x-ray fluoroscopy, the spacer graft is put into the empty disc space. This pushes your bones away to help the normal disc grow taller.
Step 7- Insert screws and plate (optional)
The spacer graft might be kept in place with the help of metal plates or screws that are attached to the front side of your vertebrae. In a few cases, you might be turned around so that the rods and pedicle screws can be placed from the back. This procedure offers stability during the fusion process.
Step 8- Close the incision
The instruments inserted are pulled out, and the peritoneum distends into its original position. The abdominal muscles are closed with stitches, and the skin incision is closed with the help of skin glue.
What are the post-ALIF recovery procedures and precautions?
Make an appointment with your doctor 2 weeks after the surgery. It may take around six to twelve weeks for you to return to normal activities. X-rays might be taken after some weeks to ensure that the fusion is working.
Fusion needs time. Try to limit your twisting, bending, and lifting for two to three months after your surgery.
Pain recurrence is common. You can avoid it by considering the following things:
- Appropriate lifting techniques
- Good body posture and mechanics while sleeping, moving, standing, and sitting
- Proper exercise plan
- A convenient work area
- Lean body mass and healthy weight
- Relaxation techniques and a positive attitude
- Quit smoking
- Follow a healthy diet
What are the risks and complications related to an ALIF surgery?
The risks and complications are the same as with other types of spinal fusions, like blood clots in your lungs and legs, paralysis, infection, incontinence, bleeding, nerve damage, and so on.
One Spine Clinic offers cutting-edge technologies with the help of highly experienced spine specialists. We are one of the best spine clinics, and we give all of our patients the best care for their spines. If you are seeking comprehensive spine care, feel free to contact us! We make sure our patients receive the best ALIF surgery in Mumbai.
conditions
Surgery
- spinal fusion
- spinal reconstruction
- Microdiscectomy
- Laminectomy
