Unlike traditional spinal surgeries, the emerging O-LIF (Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion) spinal surgery technique effectively reduces pain and accelerates recovery. With the assistance of computer navigation systems, this procedure is performed safely and efficiently with minimal disruption to spinal structures and nerves, significantly shortening the postoperative recovery period. This innovative technology combines advanced equipment and precise surgical techniques, redefining spinal fusion surgery to ensure safer outcomes and faster recovery.
◎Key Features of OLIF Surgery
-Faster Recovery
-Minimal Tissue Damage
-Rehabilitation-Free
3D Computer-assisted Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion, OLIF
Breaking the Myths of Posterior Approach: OLIF Lateral Lumbar Minimally Invasive Surgery
Traditional spinal fusion surgery involves a posterior incision of about 10–15 cm to place spinal fusion implants. This approach often disrupts spinal tissues, making it challenging to insert implants due to spatial limitations and resulting in a longer recovery period.
The OLIF procedure adopts a different surgical route by making a 6 cm incision on the side of the abdomen to access the spine. This approach effectively: Avoids muscle damage, reduces blood loss and shortens surgical time.
Additionally, the anterior approach allows for the placement of larger implants, increasing the contact surface between the implant and the spine, improving fusion rates, and enhancing spinal stability. Postoperative recovery is significantly faster.
3D-guided
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Up the next day
Precise medicine
Minimal incision
What Are the Differences Between OLIF and TLIF Approaches?
Comparison of OLIF and Traditional Surgical Approaches
OLIF surgery takes a lateral approach with a small incision through the side of the abdomen to access the spine. It effectively avoids: muscle layer damage, excessive blood loss and prolonged surgical time. The anterior approach enables the placement of larger implants, increasing spinal fusion rates, improving stability, and reducing recovery time compared to traditional posterior approaches.
| Conventional Posterior Spine Fusion Surgery |
Computer-assisted ＯＬＩＦ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Blood loss | 500 ml | 100 ml |
| Incision size | Large | Minimal |
| Hospital stay | At least 7-10 days | 4 days |
| Postopeative rehab | At least 3-6 months | No need |
Q&A
Q1.What are the advantages of OLIF (Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion)?+
- Preserves the integrity of posterior spinal muscles → Enhances spinal stability.
- Avoids damage to spinal bones and facet joints on both sides → Further improves spinal stability.
- Indirect nerve decompression without direct nerve manipulation → Significantly reduces the risk of nerve injury during surgery.
- Substantially reduces intraoperative blood loss.
- Smaller incision, lowering the risk of postoperative infections.
- Greatly alleviates postoperative pain.
- Shortens recovery and hospitalization time significantly.
Q2.Why is OLIF considered a new pathway for minimally invasive spine surgery?+
Most surgeons are more familiar with the traditional posterior approach for spine fusion surgeries, which typically involves a 10–15 cm incision along the back. Even with computer-assisted navigation in minimally invasive methods, the posterior approach requires direct decompression of nerves, often causing damage to the fascia, muscles, tendons, facet joints, and lamina around the spine. This leads to significant structural disruption, longer operative times, and greater blood loss during surgery. The extent of tissue damage in traditional methods also results in more postoperative pain and longer recovery times.
OLIF, on the other hand, uses a small incision on the lateral abdominal area to access the spine directly, avoiding the complex layers of muscles and tissues in the back. This approach significantly reduces the side effects associated with traditional spine surgeries, leading to minimal tissue damage, reduced blood loss, and faster recovery. Moreover, OLIF minimizes nerve and vascular injuries, enabling most patients to walk on the same day of surgery.
Q3.What are the indications for OLIF?+
The indications for OLIF (Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion) are broad and primarily include conditions such as sciatica, herniated discs, degenerative spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, lumbar instability, adjacent segment disease after lumbar surgery, and recurrent issues in patients who have previously undergone posterior spinal surgeries. These conditions can all be treated using the minimally invasive OLIF technique via the anterior-lateral approach for spinal fusion.
Success Case
