Renee123

Thank you

Having a MIS TLIF with smaller retractable cage and no posterolateral fusion doesn’t sound like a good risk to take for the first surgery. Some MIS surgeons will use similar boomerang cage as you and are able to do posterolateral fusion. The surgeon I am speaking to does not.

When surgeons “sell” this MIS technique they are comparing it to the typical 4-6 inch incision and muscle stripping that goes along with open TLIF. The selling point is no muscle stripping, less pain, faster recovery and they have tracked loss of blood.

Most spine surgeons do not operate through a small incision like yourself for open TLIF. As a matter of fact, none of them do!

You are the best ! Thank you.

I believe there is a lack of bone for posterlateral fusion with MIS TLIF because surgeon is not removing the facet joints as in the open TLIF. The surgeon jsut removes the pars fractures on either side.

Does this sound accurate ?

IF you read sperryguy on your forum he had non fusion for the same reason. No gutter fusion and retractable cage was used. Kind of a stupid way to do the surgery in my opinion, Why take the risk?

In any event, when you start questioning details of the surgery like this with a surgeon they generally get angry and try to get rid of you. I have found that spine surgeons do not like to be told how to do the surgery. Even the most reputable.

Your method of open TLIF is the most conservative and logical that I have found. I have found couple other surgeons that do the same and they have great results.

Who do I contact at your office to discuss surgery ? Thank you.