Indications for Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Overview

Journal Orthop Surg

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2013 Sep 5

PMID 24002831

Citations 49

Authors

Ralph J Mobbs

Aji Loganathan

Vivian Yeung

Prashanth J Rao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has become a widely recognized surgical technique for degenerative pathology of the lumbar spine. Spinal fusion has evolved dramatically ever since the first successful internal fixation by Hadra in 1891 who used a posterior approach to wire adjacent cervical vertebrae in the treatment of fracture-dislocation. Advancements were made to reduce morbidity including bone grafting substitutes, metallic hardware instrumentation and improved surgical technique. The controversy regarding which surgical approach is best for treating various pathologies of the lumbar spine still exists. Despite being an established treatment modality, current indications of ALIF are yet to be clearly defined in the literature. This article discusses the current literature on indications on ALIF surgery.

Citing Articles

Anterior lumbar discectomy and fusion: an effective technique in treating lumbar disc herniation-- a retrospective case study.

Zhang B, Zhang C, Du Y, Qi M, Meng H, Jin T BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025; 26(1):160.

PMID: 39966785 PMC: 11834193. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-025-08390-9.

Burden and Predictors of Incisional Hernia Following Anterior Lumbar Fusion: A National Study.

Avetisian H, Abdou M, Karakash W, Yoshida B, Wang J, Hah R Global Spine J. 2025; :21925682251320391.

PMID: 39933699 PMC: 11815668. DOI: 10.1177/21925682251320391.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Versus Full-Endoscopic/Percutaneous TLIF With a Large-Footprint Interbody Cage: A Comparative Observational Study.

Morgenstern C, Nogueras F, Delbos G, Morgenstern R Global Spine J. 2025; :21925682251316280.

PMID: 39864958 PMC: 11770686. DOI: 10.1177/21925682251316280.

Bone graft substitutes used in anterior lumbar interbody fusion: a contemporary systematic review of fusion rates and complications.

Biddau D, Wang Z, Faulks C, Mobbs R, Malham G J Spine Surg. 2024; 10(3):548-561.

PMID: 39399091 PMC: 11467266. DOI: 10.21037/jss-24-24.

Comparative Biomechanical Analysis of Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Bilateral Expandable Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Cages: A Finite Element Analysis Study.

Bakhaidar M, Harinathan B, Banurekha Devaraj K, DeGroot A, Yoganandan N, Shabani S Int J Spine Surg. 2024; 18(4):441-447.

PMID: 39214603 PMC: 11483624. DOI: 10.14444/8630.

References

Foley K, Gupta S . Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation of the lumbar spine: preliminary clinical results. J Neurosurg. 2002; 97(1 Suppl):7-12. DOI: 10.3171/spi.2002.97.1.0007. View

Fang H, Ong G, Hodgson A . Anterior spinal fusion: The operative approaches. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1964; 35:16-33. View

Park P, Garton H, Gala V, Hoff J, McGillicuddy J . Adjacent segment disease after lumbar or lumbosacral fusion: review of the literature. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004; 29(17):1938-44. DOI: 10.1097/01.brs.0000137069.88904.03. View

Schofferman J, Slosar P, Reynolds J, Goldthwaite N, Koestler M . A prospective randomized comparison of 270 degrees fusions to 360 degrees fusions (circumferential fusions). Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001; 26(10):E207-12. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-200105150-00019. View

Gumbs A, Bloom N, Bitan F, Hanan S . Open anterior approaches for lumbar spine procedures. Am J Surg. 2007; 194(1):98-102. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.08.085. View

Ishihara H, Osada R, Kanamori M, Kawaguchi Y, Ohmori K, Kimura T . Minimum 10-year follow-up study of anterior lumbar interbody fusion for isthmic spondylolisthesis. J Spinal Disord. 2001; 14(2):91-9. DOI: 10.1097/00002517-200104000-00001. View

Stauffer R, COVENTRY M . Anterior interbody lumbar spine fusion. Analysis of Mayo Clinic series. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1972; 54(4):756-68. View

Shim J, Kim W, Kim J, Kim D, Hwang J, Park C . Comparison of instrumented posterolateral fusion versus percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with anterior lumbar interbody fusion in elderly patients with L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis and foraminal stenosis. J Neurosurg Spine. 2011; 15(3):311-9. DOI: 10.3171/2011.4.SPINE10653. View

Andersson G, Mekhail N, Block J . Treatment of intractable discogenic low back pain. A systematic review of spinal fusion and intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET). Pain Physician. 2006; 9(3):237-48. View

10.

Crandall D, Revella J . Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus anterior lumbar interbody fusion as an adjunct to posterior instrumented correction of degenerative lumbar scoliosis: three year clinical and radiographic outcomes. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009; 34(20):2126-33. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b612db. View

11.

Kim J, Kim D, Lee S, Park C, Hwang J, Cheh G . Comparison study of the instrumented circumferential fusion with instrumented anterior lumbar interbody fusion as a surgical procedure for adult low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis. World Neurosurg. 2010; 73(5):565-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2010.02.057. View

12.

Dennis S, Watkins R, Landaker S, Dillin W, Springer D . Comparison of disc space heights after anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1989; 14(8):876-8. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-198908000-00019. View

13.

Hacker R . Comparison of interbody fusion approaches for disabling low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997; 22(6):660-5; discussion 665-6. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199703150-00017. View

14.

Flynn J, Hoque M . Anterior fusion of the lumbar spine. End-result study with long-term follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1979; 61(8):1143-50. View

15.

Muschik M, Zippel H, Perka C . Surgical management of severe spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents. Anterior fusion in situ versus anterior spondylodesis with posterior transpedicular instrumentation and reduction. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997; 22(17):2036-42; discussion 2043. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199709010-00020. View

16.

Inoue S, Watanabe T, Goto S, Takahashi K, Takata K, Sho E . Degenerative spondylolisthesis. Pathophysiology and results of anterior interbody fusion. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1988; 227:90-8. View

17.

Heggeness M, Esses S . Classification of pseudarthroses of the lumbar spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1991; 16(8 Suppl):S449-54. View

18.

Lee C, Hwang C, Lee D, Kim Y, Lee H . Fusion rates of instrumented lumbar spinal arthrodesis according to surgical approach: a systematic review of randomized trials. Clin Orthop Surg. 2011; 3(1):39-47. PMC: 3042168. DOI: 10.4055/cios.2011.3.1.39. View

19.

CALANDRUCCIO R, BENTON B . Anterior lumbar fusion. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1964; 35:63-8. View

20.

Thalgott J, Giuffre J, Klezl Z, Timlin M . Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with titanium mesh cages, coralline hydroxyapatite, and demineralized bone matrix as part of a circumferential fusion. Spine J. 2003; 2(1):63-9. DOI: 10.1016/s1529-9430(01)00155-3. View