Unilateral lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF)


Published online: Jun 27 2016

Benoit ZACHEE, Luc VANDEN BERGHE

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, AZ Nikolaas, Sint Niklaas, Belgium and the department of Orthopaedic Surgery, AZ Sint Lukas, Bruges, Belgium

Abstract

Results and clinical outcome of a prospective multicenter clinical study involving 100 patients undergoing a lumbar interbody fusion procedure using an unilateral approach to the spine to introduce a new surgical technique as a viable and less invasive alternative to standard posterior (PLIF) or transforaminal (TLIF) lumbar interbody fusion techniques : For certain indications clinical data show that unilateral lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) offers the surgeon a considerable time advantage compared to standard lumbar interbody fusion techniques.