What is a cage used for in spinal surgery?

The intervertebral fusion cage is a large, hollow cylinder made of some type of metal, usually titanium. It is designed as a “cage” so that bone graft can be placed inside the hollow cylinder to allow a spinal fusion to occur between two vertebrae.

What is a cage procedure?

If you plan to opt for spinal fusion surgery to treat your neck or lower back pain, your surgeon will likely place an interbody cage in your spine. The cage serves as a space holder between your affected vertebrae and allows bone to grow through it, eventually becoming a part of your spine.

What is Tlif cage?

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a contemporary approach to spinal fusion surgery. It is an operation performed on the lower back to remove an intervertebral disc and join two or more spinal bones (vertebrae) together using screws and a cage.

What is PLIF cage?

A cage made of allograft bone, or posterior lumbar interbody cages with bone graft, is then inserted into the disc space and the bone grows from vertebral body to vertebral body.

How do they put a cage in your back?

Most of the cages are placed in the front of the spine (anterior lumbar interbody fusion or ALIF) . The cages can be inserted through a small incision (minilaparotomy) or with an endoscope (a scope that allows the surgery to be done through several one-inch incisions).

What is the difference between TLIF and PLIF?

The PLIF technique includes performing a wide laminectomy and bilateral partial facetectomy to allow visualization and removal of the intervertebral disc. The TLIF technique includes performing a complete unilateral (one side only) facetectomy to allow visualization and removal of the intervertebral disc.

Can spinal fusion cause problems later in life?

The most common thing we see in the clinic in patients who have spinal fusion complications years later is either a return of back pain or new symptoms. These both indicate possible new disease.

How long does pain last after spinal fusion?

As the back continues to heal, patients usually start to feel better and find they can take on more activities. The worst pain is generally over by 4 weeks after surgery. Pain is likely to continue to decrease gradually, but some patients continue to have pain 3 to 6 months after surgery.

What does cage stand for?

The CAGE Assessment (also called the CAGE Questionnaire) is a preliminary test. It’s a set of questions that are used to show you may have a substance abuse dependency in adults. The letters CAGE stand for Cut, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye, based on the questions that can help tell if you have a substance abuse problem.