A posterior decompression could be something as simple as a small opening in the lamina to access the back of the canal and decompress a nerve root to a full laminectomy with removal of the entire back of the canal.
PLIF is a posterior lumbar interbody fusion. This is a procedure to remove most of the disc and place a spacer (or cage) in the back of the canal. The PLIF procedure usually involved placing one spacer on each side but a one-sided PLIF could still be considered. This procedure is somewhat similar to the TLIF which you can read about on this website.
Matrix instrumentation is a set of rods and screws made by Synthes that is used to stabilize the spine while the fusion is occurring.
Plivios cages are the spacers used to hold the disc space open while the fusion is taking place.
The bone graft sources this surgeon is choosing are allograft chips (cadaver bone) and DBX which is a demineralized bone matrix that contains proteins that reportedly help to induce fusion bone growth.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
