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Spinal Fusion With Instrumentation Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a LIF procedure?

Hollow fusion cages made of various materials are available to act as a shim to mechanically support the disc space allowing the fusion to take place. Bone graft or other bone fusion products are placed inside of the fusion cages prior to their insertion into the disc space. Placing a cage into the disc space is called a lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) and can be performed from the backside (PLIF), the front side (ALIF), sideways (XLIF), and a posterior lateral approach (TLIF).

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