OLIF, also known as oblique lateral interbody fusion, is a procedure that is performed as a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) technique.
This innovative technique is growing quickly and is becoming more widely practiced. The number of established surgeons beginning to offer MIS OLIF is rapidly increasing by around 10% every year.
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This article on the OLIF spinal procedure covers what the procedure consists of, why the OLIF approach is used over alternative surgeries, the benefits of the procedure compared to "open fusion techniques," and much more!
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An OLIF is a surgical technique for spinal problems that minimizes cutting to muscles and uses a single port to access the disc space, fill it with bone material, and then fuse the bones of the lumbar spine. In some cases, using an OLIF procedure will minimize the costly use of navigation devices because the approach is not at risk of contracting the CNS.
OLIF can be used to treat various conditions of the lumbar spine, including but not limited to degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, fractures to the vertebrae, spinal deformities, spinal weakness, or spondylolisthesis.
This technique is sometimes referred to as Oblique Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLIF).
Here is a detailed video on the OLIF procedure by Medtronic Spinal:
Source: YouTube, Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion (OLIF) patient education video by Medtronic Spinal
An OLIF procedure can be used over traditional approaches to avoid cutting the psoas muscle, making this procedure a minimally invasive surgery. This is crucial because avoiding cutting the psoas muscle can lead to a faster recovery for the patient.
So...how is this procedure done?
A surgeon will begin by positioning the patient on their side and using a fluoroscope (also known as a video x-ray device) to find the damaged disc.
From there, a small incision is made to allow some small tubes, called “dilators,” to reach the disc and a surgical retractor to create a working field for the surgeon. [source] Next, a 10 mm diameter surgical port is introduced to allow access to “Kambin’s triangle.”
A definition of Kambin’s triangle, according to The Journal of Neurosurgery (JNS), states that Kambin’s triangle is “an anatomical corridor used to access critical structures in a variety of spinal procedures.” This space is considered safe because it does not house any vascular and neural structures of importance.
Kambin’s triangle allows access to the disc without cutting through the psoas muscle, which is key to faster recovery time for the patient because it skips cutting or separating the psoas muscle.
The disc is removed through the space and then packed with either the synthetic bone growth matrix or the patient’s bone graft. [source]
Finally, the surgeon will insert a cage or support structure before attaching the disc to the next disc underneath it.
Here is a photo that depicts Kambin’s Triangle.
OLIF Compared with Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
OLIF Compared with Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
Source: “Mini-Open Anterior Retroperitoneal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion for Lumbar Spinal Degeneration Disease.”
Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
Spinal surgeries are known for their invasiveness and can cause loss of back strength due to cutting into significant back muscles to reach the centrally located spine.
OLIF is one of the few spinal surgeries that is a minimally invasive procedure and can reach the problem area without cutting into any major muscle mass, therefore protecting the body’s strength. [source]
That said, there are a handful of other vital reasons to consider OLIF surgery over more traditional “open fusion techniques.” But, like any surgical procedure, there also are risks that come with the OLIF procedure.
We discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of the OLIF procedure below...
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Below are two images of a Lumitex customer's light with a retractor "in action."
Since Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) was introduced, many advancements have been made in the industry. According to a market analysis report by Grand View Research, "the MIS instruments market size was valued at $20 billion in 2018 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.85% during the forecast period 2019 - 2026."
It's without a doubt that OLIF procedures will become increasingly more prominent throughout the industry and both spinal instrument and implant companies looking to develop their capabilities will be adding OLIF illumination to their portfolio.
At Lumitex, we can give you everything you need to add light to your surgical retractor system, so you can focus on improving the standard of patient care. Share your project with our team today so we can help you optimize your design to enhance patient care and outcomes.
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