PLIF
Also written as: PLIF — Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Spinal fusion technique accessing the disc space from directly behind through bilateral laminectomy.
Full Definition
A surgical approach to lumbar interbody fusion performed through a posterior midline incision with bilateral laminectomy and facetectomy to access the disc space. After discectomy, interbody cages or bone grafts are inserted bilaterally to restore disc height and promote fusion. While providing excellent visualization and decompression, PLIF requires significant retraction of neural elements, which carries higher risk of neural injury compared to newer techniques like TLIF.
Usage
Usage note: Always use all capitals when abbreviated. Often contrasted with TLIF in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The surgeon opted for PLIF over TLIF due to the need for extensive bilateral decompression." — operative planning
- "Bilateral PLIF cages were inserted following complete discectomy at L5-S1." — operative report