Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Description

Lumbar vertebral bodies are presented in lateral profile with an interbody spacer cage seated within the intervertebral disc space, spanning from the inferior endplate of the superior vertebra to the superior endplate of the inferior vertebra. The cage lies centered between the anterior and posterior vertebral margins, restoring disc height and separating the adjacent endplates while the posterior elements remain posterior to the disc space. The adjacent annulus region and vertebral cortical rims frame the implant, emphasizing its footprint relative to the apophyseal ring. Alignment is the story. Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF, also termed XLIF in some surgical contexts) is chosen to access the disc through a lateral transpsoas or oblique corridor, aiming to achieve indirect decompression by increasing foraminal height and tensioning the ligamentum flavum without a wide posterior exposure. Cage position in this fixed lateral perspective helps readers judge anterior to posterior placement, a key determinant of segmental lordosis, endplate loading, and the risk of subsidence, which rises when the implant violates the weaker central endplate rather than engaging the peripheral apophyseal ring. Proximity to the psoas muscle and lumbar plexus (L2 to L4) is a standard concern in LLIF planning, and the lateral viewpoint supports teaching why neuromonitoring and careful corridor selection matter. Spine surgeons and trainees can use this illustration in operative technique chapters, device brochures, and conference slides to discuss implant sizing, disc space preparation, and common failure modes such as cage migration, subsidence, and pseudarthrosis. It also fits well in anatomy and biomechanics modules that compare interbody approaches (anterior, lateral, posterior) while keeping the focus on the lumbar disc space and vertebral endplates. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.