MIS ILIF: Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumented Fusion
Overview
Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumented Fusion, ILIF, is typically used to treat back pain caused by spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis.
About the Procedure
During the ILIF procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision in the lower back and an opening is created through the ligaments. This allows access to the spinous processes (the bone you can feel when you run your hand down your spine). The damaged portion of the disc is removed and allograft bone is placed in the empty space. This helps protect the spinal cord and nerves. A metal implant is inserted to stabilize the spine and secure the spinous processes until the fusion takes place. Morsellated bone is used together with the allograft to fuse the vertebra above and below.
Advantages of using the ILIF procedure over traditional spine surgery can mean a smaller incision, less blood loss, less post-operative pain and quicker return to activity. This procedure is generally performed in an outpatient setting or 23 hour stay.
Home Remedy Book
As a community service, Northwest Florida Spine mails out a free 36-page Home Remedy Book with customized stretches that can relieve some back and neck pain symptoms. Enter your name and address and we will mail you a copy.
Back to Life Journal
Download our free 16-page Back to Life Journal that shows how to get back to golf, tennis, hiking and more with home remedies. Insert your email to subscribe and download.
Symptoms Chart
Some symptoms can become permanent if you don’t see the physician with in 24 hours. Find out when you can use “watchful waiting” and when you have an emergency symptom.
Exercise Library
What do exercises have to do with relieving pain? Research in sports medicine and spine care exercises have shown to help relieve joint, ligament, muscle problems in the legs, arms, neck and back and increase range of motion.
Need an Appointment?
Dr. Michael Rohan, Jr. is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in spine surgery, the highest level of medical education in the U.S. For over 10 years, Dr. Michael Rohan, Jr. had a prominent spine center on the Florida Gulf Coast with offices in Panama City and Destin before expanding his practice with a new spine care location in Middleburg in Clay County, Florida, a suburb of Jacksonville in Northern Florida. The Jacksonville practice location is convenient to patients from other cities like St. Augustine, Gainesville, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, and Duval County. Other patients travel from South Georgia cities like Brunswick, GA; Waycross, GA; and coastal locations like Jekyll Island and Savannah. If you’ve been told you need spine surgery, it can be beneficial to get a second opinion for spine surgery from a spine surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement.
Disclaimer: Internet Explorer is now obsolete and has been replaced by Microsoft. If you are viewing in Internet Explorer 8 or older, you will need to update your browser by Clicking here.
