What is ALIF?
ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) is a lumbar fusion procedure performed through an incision on the front (anterior) of the abdomen. The abdominal muscles are retracted (not cut) to access the front of the lumbar spine. The damaged disc is completely removed and replaced with a large interbody cage packed with bone graft.
The anterior approach allows placement of a significantly larger cage than posterior or lateral approaches — maximising disc height restoration, foraminal decompression, and lumbar lordosis (curve) correction. This makes ALIF particularly well-suited for treating degenerative disc disease with loss of lordosis and as a component of spinal deformity correction.
Advantages of ALIF
Indications
- Degenerative disc disease at L4-5 or L5-S1 with persistent back and leg pain
- Isthmic spondylolisthesis at L5-S1
- Revision surgery after failed posterior fusion
- Deformity correction requiring anterior column support
- Pseudarthrosis (non-union) of a prior fusion
Recovery
Days 1–3 (Hospital)
Mobilised day 1. Abdominal soreness normal. Bowel motility returns in 1–2 days. Discharged day 2–4.
Weeks 2–6
Walking programme. Light activities. Avoid heavy lifting and twisting. Back brace worn for 6 weeks.
3–6 Months
Physiotherapy and core strengthening. Return to work. X-ray confirms early fusion.
12 Months
Full fusion and complete recovery. Return to all activities.