An interbody fusion is a spinal surgery wherein a compromised intervertebral disc is removed and replaced with an implant. The implant restores natural spinal alignment, fuses the two adjoining vertebrae to enhance stability, and reduces the painful symptoms of nerve compression. Spinal fusion is often combined with bone grafting, a procedure wherein a bone graft material is inserted into the spinal bone to replace the lost bone tissues and activate bone growth.
XLIF (eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion) is one of the most advanced minimally-invasive methods of achieving the aforementioned goals without disrupting the back muscles, making it the best treatment for degenerative discs, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative scoliosis. Dr. Brian McHugh aims to treat all spinal problems using nonsurgical and non-invasive methods, such as medications, corticosteroids, and physical therapy. However, minimally invasive surgery may be necessary in severe cases.
