Lumbar Posterior Spinal Instrumented Fusion – Mini-Open (PSIF) and Minimally Invasive Techniques

A spinal fusion is aimed at limiting the amount of motion, preventing further spinal stenosis and pain from an unstable spine. In some cases a lumbar laminectomy and lumbar posterior reconstruction (opening of collapsed disc heights and freeing of the bony tunnel for the exiting nerve roots) are performed as a combined procedure.

An incision is made in the lower back, the muscles at the back of the spine are split in a minimally destructive way, and then special spinal bone screws (pedicle screws) are carefully placed into the vertebral bone of the levels that are to be fused.

After a possible laminectomy, rods are inserted to link the screws. Distraction of the collapsed disc space between two levels is performed. Bone graft is placed between the vertebral levels that are being fused and the facet joints (small joints linking the vertebral bones at the back of the spine) are also prepared to achieve stabilisation. Relief of leg pain is often immediate with patients requiring 5-7 days stay in hospital followed by post-operative physiotherapy.