In a Minimally Invasive Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS ALIF), the patient is positioned on their back, sometimes slightly tilted, to provide optimal access to the lumbar spine. A vascular surgeon first makes a small incision, typically around 2-3 inches, on the abdomen. Using imaging guidance, the vascular surgeon carefully navigates through the soft tissues, including muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, gently moving them aside with specialized instruments to create a clear pathway to the spine. Once the abdominal cavity is accessed, the vascular surgeon hands over the procedure to the spine surgeon, who then takes over to remove the damaged intervertebral disc and prepare the spine for fusion.

The damaged disc is then removed, and the disc space is cleaned to prepare for fusion. Bone graft is inserted into a PEEK cage then is inserted to restore the disc height and promote fusion. In some cases, additional stabilization with metal plates or screws may be used. The small incision is then closed, and the patient is taken to recovery. Due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, patients typically experience less pain, a quicker recovery, and a shorter hospital stay compared to traditional ALIF. Postoperative care includes monitoring and rehabilitation to ensure proper healing.

Some patients may stay in the hospital overnight until the next afternoon. The overnight stay allows for adequate training with a physical therapist and establishes good pain control with medications before the patients goes home. After the surgery, all patients wear a back brace when out of bed for 3 months to provide support for the muscles, and reduce the use of pain medications. In patients that are at high risk of the bones not fusing together, Dr. Rodriguez may order an external bone growth stimulator to minimize this risk. Patients can return to light nonphysical jobs in as early as 6 weeks out from the surgery; however, Dr. Rodriguez usually recommends that the patients plan on being off of work for 3 months. Heavy labor positions may require 6 months to 12 months before full release to work.