ALIF - Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Symptoms, Classification, Diagnosis & Recovery

A spinal fusion procedure called anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is used to treat lower back disorders such as degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and spinal instability. ALIF uses an anterior (front) approach, where the surgeon accesses the spine by making an abdominal incision.

Doctors can lessen the strain on your spinal nerves by using bone grafts to replace your damaged disks. Ultimately, these grafts produce new bone that unites or combines vertebrae.

It is named after the process in which doctors carry out the procedure. In order to put a bone or titanium graft between your vertebrae (interbody) that will fuse or unite your vertebrae (fusion), surgeons must make an incision in your abdomen (belly) to access your lower back (lumbar) from the front (anterior) of your body.