Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion, Lateral View

Description

Lumbar vertebral bodies L3 through L5 anchor the frame in a true lateral profile, with an intervertebral fusion cage seated in the disc space immediately superior to the L4 vertebral body (the L3 to L4 interspace). The cage spans the apophyseal ring region and abuts the superior endplate of L4 inferiorly and the inferior endplate of L3 superiorly, positioned anterior to the spinal canal and posterior to the anterior longitudinal ligament line. Posterior elements are visible in silhouette, with the pedicles, laminae, and spinous processes aligned posteriorly relative to the vertebral bodies. Disc height restoration is emphasized. Lateral lumbar interbody fusion is commonly selected for degenerative disc disease, coronal deformity, and low-grade spondylolisthesis where indirect decompression is desired by re-tensioning the ligamentum flavum and enlarging the neural foramina without a direct posterior laminectomy. Cage position relative to the endplates matters. Subsidence, endplate violation, and cage migration correlate with loss of segmental lordosis and recurrent foraminal stenosis, so the clean lateral silhouette helps you teach why the implant is sized to maximize bony contact while respecting the ring apophysis. The fixed lateral perspective also supports discussion of the transpsoas or oblique retroperitoneal corridor and its relationship to the lumbar plexus, even when soft tissues are not foregrounded. Use this illustration in spine surgery atlases, device manuals, and CME slide decks to label implant orientation at L3 to L4 and to contrast lateral interbody fusion with TLIF and ALIF in a single plane. It also fits anatomy and biomechanics courses that link disc space distraction to segmental alignment and foraminal dimensions. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.