Dr. Luiz Pimenta -- Advanced Applications and Techniques for the XLIF Procedure (discusses Artificial Disc Replacement Revision)

[Justin]

Here's a link to Dr. Luiz Pimenta's presentation about Advanced Applications and Techniques for the XLIF Procedure. Some of the text is hard to read, but the images are great.

There is discussion about Artificial Disc Replacement revision using the XLIF approach.

Click here for the presentation.

[rob wilson]

Justin,

Can the lateral approach be done for an aritifical disc at L3/4 not a revision? Thanks

[Justin]

Justin,

Can the lateral approach be done for an aritifical disc at L3/4 not a revision? Thanks

The short answer is yes. Dr. Pimenta has had much success with this approach throughout the lumbar spine (as well as the thoracic spine).

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Here's a link to Dr. Luiz Pimenta's presentation about Advanced Applications and Techniques for the XLIF Procedure. Some of the text is hard to read, but the images are great.

There is discussion about Artificial Disc Replacement revision using the XLIF approach.

Click here for the presentation.

Gosh, white on yellow. I wonder who picked these colors. Might be easier to read if converter to black and white with photo shop.

[Justin]

Gosh, white on yellow. I wonder who picked these colors. Might be easier to read if converter to black and white with photo shop.

If you highlight the words on each slide with your cursor, it will be much easier to read.

[Jack-of-all-trades]

If you highlight the words on each slide with your cursor, it will be much easier to read.

Thanks, that helps. I zoomed in to 200% and the combo of the two made it readable. You are right, very good pics.

[runagain]

Thanks for posting this Justin.

One of my first consults for surgery wanted to do an XLIF. He kept emphasizing the XLIF as a surgery that I would stay in the hospital for one day. He also thought my being on Tramadol and such was too much narcotics. A direct quote was "I expect you to be off all pain medications within 30 days post-op.'
He also expected only a 50 some percent chance of the surgery being successful.
Nevertheless, I did not take his advice and went onto my surgeon, who made much more sense.
I remember he also tried to convince me that I did not need fusion and I was in a whole lot of pain.
I see they list overall complication rate at %6, what do you think of this Justin?
It looks like this is one of the "safer" ways to explant a TDR. Those picts with the Charite are amazing.

I think one of the reasons Dr. Pimenta used yellow might be because the Brazilian colors are yellow and green.
Maybe he is proud to be from Brazil?
The pictures just show you how complicated surgeries can be and the need to have a top-flight surgeon as you can see what can potentially happen with spine surgery.

R

[Jack-of-all-trades]

I had posterior lumbar interbody fusion done here ORLive, Inc.: Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) It is definitely not a one day gig. Results were very good. No back brace as the titanium kept everything in place. Tramadol is not really a opiate but at any rate it is not suitable for post op pain control.

I went to see one of these opiate Nazis who foamed at the mouth when I told him I was on opiates for pain control. I dusted my feet off as I left and never went back. I told my neurosurgeon who did my surgery that my pain management doc would follow me post op for pain control. One of the few things I did right as the Resident who discharged me gave me a script for Percocet 5 mg, i or ii Q4h. I tore it up in front of him and told him I already had pain control covered. My PM doc gave me a script for Percocet 10/325, iii Q4h which was about right considering at the time I was opiate tolerant.

[NancyC]

Has anyone had XLIF? During my discussion of surgry today with my doctor, this is what we decided to do. I will be going in for the first part February 22, and then the second part (the screws) on March 4. I'm looking forward to spending so little time in hospital, but would like to know if anyone else here has had it done.

Thanks,

~Nancy

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion of L5-S1 is what I had. XLIF is more from the side Interbody Fusion - ALIF, PLIF and XLIF Check out the link in my post above for one technique that was minimally invasive. I now have 0 lumbar pain unless I twist or lift a lot. Normally, I don't pick up over 35 lbs and from knee height or above.

Why is he doing it in two different surgeries?