ALIF stands for anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The ALIF procedure is one of several different methods of spinal fusion. During spinal fusion surgery, a surgeon fuses two or more vertebrae together using a bone graft. The bone tissue of these vertebrae will continue to grow and permanently lock together. Spinal fusion limits the movement of the spine,
The incision for a bone graft can vary but is generally 1½ – 2 inches long.
The alternatives to using a bone graft from the patient’s hip are to use local bone,
The news that smoking is bad for you is hardly groundbreaking. Smoking has been linked to serious diseases like lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. Did you know that smoking and back pain are also related? That’s right, if you’re a smoker and are experiencing back pain, smoking is probably part of the issue. Research has found that smoking may be associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis,
The next video in our series features Dr. Michael Longley, a board certified and fellowship trained orthopaedic spine surgeon who sees clinic in Omaha and Grand Island.
The next video in our series features Dr. Timothy Burd, a board certified and fellowship trained orthopaedic spine surgeon who sees clinic in Omaha and in Fremont.
Dr. Gill is the first spine surgeon to be featured in our new video series featuring our board certified and fellowship trained spine surgeons.
Cervical discectomy procedures are performed to relieve the pressure on nerves from a herniated disc. A disc herniates when the outer portion of the disc ruptures and some of the softer disc nucleus material squeezes out. The herniated disc pushes against the spinal cord or spinal nerves and causes pain in the neck or arms.