Expandable Cage Technology—Transforaminal, Anterior, and Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion

• Published in: Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) Vol. 21; no. Supplement_1; pp. S69 - S80
• Main Authors: Macki, Mohamed, Hamilton, Travis, Haddad, Yazeed W, Chang, Victor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Oxford University Press 01.07.2021; Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc
• Subjects: Back surgery; Neurosurgery; Orthopedic apparatus; Spine; Surgeons; Surgery; Surgical techniques; Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF); Spine; Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF); Expandable cage; Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF)
• ISSN: 2332-4252; 2332-4260
• DOI: 10.1093/ons/opaa342

Abstract This review of the literature will focus on the indications, surgical techniques, and outcomes for expandable transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) operations. The expandable TLIF cage has become a workhorse for common degenerative pathology, whereas expandable ALIF cages carry the promise of greater lordotic correction while evading the diseased posterior elements. Expandable LLIF cages call upon minimally invasive techniques for a retroperitoneal, transpsoas approach to the disc space, obviating the need for an access surgeon and decreasing risk of injury to the critical neurovascular structures. Nuances between expandable and static cages for all 3 TLIF, ALIF, and LLIF operations are discussed in this review.