Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion, Lateral View

Description

Oblique lateral access to the lumbar spine frames the L4 vertebral body in profile, with the L4 to L5 disc space opened to accept an interbody fusion cage seated on the superior endplate of L4 and spanning toward the adjacent vertebra. Superior and inferior endplates, the anterior vertebral body margin, and the posterior wall toward the spinal canal define the working corridor, while the cage sits centrally within the intervertebral space rather than posteriorly near the canal. Across the sequence, distraction and cage insertion progress stepwise, clarifying how disc height is restored and segmental alignment is maintained from a true lateral viewpoint. Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is chosen to address degenerative disc disease, low grade spondylolisthesis, and foraminal stenosis by indirect decompression, increasing foraminal height and tensioning the ligamentum flavum without a primary posterior decompression. Motion matters here. The animated lateral view makes cage trajectory, depth relative to the anterior vertebral border, and endplate contact points easier to judge than a static frame, which is where endplate violation can set up subsidence and loss of correction. Use this clip in spine surgery teaching modules on transpsoas or oblique lateral approaches, in device education for intervertebral cage sizing and placement, and in publisher figures that need a clean explanation of indirect decompression mechanics at L4 to L5. It also supports patient education when discussing why a lateral approach can reduce paraspinal muscle disruption compared with posterior fusion. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.