Posterolateral lumbar fusion

Last revised by Henry Knipe ◉ ◈ on 10 Sep 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Knipe H, Posterolateral lumbar fusion. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-91054

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-91054

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/91054

rID:

91054

Article created:

9 Jul 2021, Henry Knipe ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.

View Henry Knipe's current disclosures

Last revised:

10 Sep 2022, Henry Knipe ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:

Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Speaker fees (past)
Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Henry Knipe's current disclosures

Revisions:

6 times, by 1 contributor - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Spine

Tags:

cases

Synonyms:

Intertransverse fusion
Posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion
Posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF)
Spinopelvic fixation

Posterolateral lumbar fusion is an alternative technique to lumbar interbody fusion and can be a primary procedure or performed after lumbar laminectomy for spinal decompression to aid in stability after disruption of the posterior tension band. Posterior instrumentation via pedicle screws and rod fixation may also be performed.

median or paraspinal approach with exposure and decortication of the vertebral arch from the superior articular process to the transverse process
bone graft (e.g. bone block, bone strips, bone chips) obtained from the sacral ala or ilium or use of an artificial hydroxyapatite block
bone graft material is placed between the transverse processes of the levels to be fused ^4,6