Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) (1 Level) in Wichita, KS

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) involves surgically mending two (or more) lumbar spine bones together along the sides of the bone. A bone graft is placed along side the spine bones (not in between the disc spaces, which is called an interbody fusion), and ultimately fuses the bones together. PLIF can be performed in conjunction with or without a posterior decompression (laminectomy) and/or instrumentation (use of metal screws/rods). Typically, metal screws and rods are placed so as to impart immediate stability while the bone mends and to increase the fusion rate (percentage of patients where the bone successfully mends together).