Lumbar Laminectomy and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF):
About the Procedure
When conservative treatment for back pain such as medication and physical therapy fail to relieve the pain, surgery may be necessary. A lumber laminectomy and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) are two forms of surgery that are performed to treat a number of spinal conditions including herniated disks, degenerative disk disease and other related conditions.
The goal of a lumbar laminectomy is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerve by widening the spinal canal. This is done by removing or trimming the lamina (roof) of the vertebrae to create more space for the nerves.
The goal of fusion surgery is to create a stronger more stable spine. During a TLIF procedure the surgeon will approach the spine from the side to remove the disk that is causing the problem and replace it with a bone graft or bone graft substitute which will help the vertebrae to fuse together. In addition, spinal instrumentation such as screws and rods will be used to hold the spine in position and help promote a successful fusion.
The surgery takes approximately two hours and patients are typically in the hospital three to five days. They receive physical therapy afterward and are usually able to resume all activities within three to six months.
Jefferson’s Spine Program is one of the busiest spine programs in the country. Orthopedic Surgeons and Neurological Surgeons, specializing in spinal disorders, work together to treat various disorders of the spine including many trauma and complex cases.
Jefferson, in affiliation with the Magee Rehabilitation, is designated as one of the nation’s 16 Model Spinal Cord Injury Centers by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), and is the only such center in the Delaware Valley. The center has treated more than 3,000 persons with spinal cord injury.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.
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