Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF)
Steps Involved in IVF:
Procedure Description
Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF), also known as lateral lumbar interbody fusion, is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to treat various spinal conditions, particularly those affecting the lumbar region of the spine. Unlike traditional spinal fusion techniques, DLIF involves accessing the spine through the patient's side (lateral approach), which minimizes trauma to back muscles, reduces post-operative pain, and facilitates a quicker recovery.
The procedure focuses on removing damaged or degenerated intervertebral discs and stabilizing the spine by placing an implant or bone graft between the vertebrae. This fusion process helps alleviate symptoms like back pain, leg pain, and numbness resulting from conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, or spinal stenosis.
A critical aspect of DLIF is its minimally invasive nature. By accessing the spine laterally, surgeons can avoid the major back muscles, tendons, and ligaments, leading to decreased blood loss, smaller incisions, and a shorter hospital stay. The technique requires the use of specialized instruments and fluoroscopic guidance, making it an advanced surgical approach that requires substantial skill and precision.
Procedure Duration
The duration of a DLIF procedure can vary based on the severity of the patient's spinal condition, the number of vertebral levels requiring fusion, and the surgeon's expertise. On average, the procedure lasts about 1.5 to 3 hours. It usually involves the following phases:
- Preparation & Incision: The patient is positioned on their side, and under general anesthesia, a small incision is made on the side of the body. This approach reduces the risk of muscle damage, unlike traditional spinal surgeries that require a posterior (back) incision.
- Disc Removal & Spacer Placement: Surgeons use real-time X-ray guidance to navigate through the psoas muscle and reach the affected spine segment. The damaged disc is then removed, and a spacer or bone graft is inserted to promote fusion. Specialized retractors and instruments are utilized to minimize surrounding tissue damage.
- Closure & Recovery: After the spacer is securely placed, the incision is closed with sutures or staples. Most patients are mobilized quickly, often on the same day or within 24 hours post-surgery. Recovery varies, but many individuals can return to light activities within a few weeks and full activity within 6-8 weeks.
Because DLIF is minimally invasive, the recovery time is significantly reduced compared to traditional open back surgeries. Patients typically experience less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays, which often range from one to three days.
Benefits of Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF)
- Minimally Invasive: Smaller incisions and less disruption to back muscles result in reduced postoperative pain and faster recovery.
- Decreased Hospital Stay: Patients often have shorter hospital stays, sometimes only one or two days.
- Quicker Return to Daily Activities: Many patients are able to resume light activities within weeks and full activities within a few months.
- Reduced Blood Loss: The lateral approach minimizes blood loss compared to traditional spinal fusion surgeries.
- Improved Spine Alignment: DLIF can effectively address conditions like scoliosis and spinal deformities, improving overall spine stability and posture.
Potential Destinations for DLIF
1. Turkey
Turkey has become a top destination for spinal surgeries due to its advanced medical infrastructure, competitive costs, and skilled surgeons who are often trained in Western countries. Patients benefit from high standards of care, modern facilities, and efficient healthcare delivery.
2. India
India offers world-class spinal care at affordable prices. Many medical centers in India have state-of-the-art equipment and highly qualified orthopedic and spine surgeons. The availability of comprehensive care, combined with low costs, makes India a preferred destination for DLIF.
3. Thailand
Thailand’s renowned medical tourism industry provides exceptional spinal care, blending expertise with hospitality. The country's leading hospitals are equipped with advanced technology, and its surgeons have extensive experience in minimally invasive techniques like DLIF, attracting patients seeking affordable and high-quality care.
4. Mexico
Proximity to the United States makes Mexico an appealing choice for North American patients seeking DLIF. Many hospitals in Mexico have internationally accredited standards and offer experienced surgeons and comprehensive spine care packages at lower costs compared to the U.S.
5. Spain
Spain boasts a reputable healthcare system with highly trained specialists and modern facilities. The country is known for its patient-centered approach, quality of care, and advanced minimally invasive spinal procedures like DLIF. Patients can expect thorough preoperative assessments and follow-up care in a comfortable environment.
Risks & Considerations of DLIF
- Nerve Injury: The lateral approach involves passing through the psoas muscle, which is close to the lumbar plexus, posing a risk of nerve injury that may result in numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs.
- Infection: As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection, which can occur at the incision site or deeper in the spine.
- Hardware Complications: The implants or bone grafts used to fuse the spine could move, break, or fail to facilitate proper fusion, requiring additional intervention.
- Fusion Failure (Non-Union): In some cases, the vertebrae may not fuse properly, leading to persistent pain or instability, potentially necessitating revision surgery.
- Vascular Injury: Though rare, injury to blood vessels during surgery is possible, which can lead to bleeding or hematoma formation.
How to Choose the Right Doctor and Hospital
When seeking a DLIF procedure, choosing the right doctor and hospital is crucial. Patients should prioritize surgeons who have specialized training in spine surgery and significant experience with minimally invasive techniques like DLIF. Board certification and international training are positive indicators of the surgeon’s qualifications.
Selecting a hospital that offers a multidisciplinary approach to spine care is equally important. The facility should have a comprehensive team, including spine surgeons, physical therapists, anesthesiologists, and pain management specialists. Additionally, the hospital should have state-of-the-art imaging technology and be equipped to handle any potential complications that may arise during or after surgery.
To receive a free quote for this procedure please click on the link: https://www.medicaltourism.com/get-a-quote
Patients are advised to seek hospitals that are accredited by Global Healthcare and only work with medical tourism facilitators who are certified by Global Healthcare Accreditation or who have undergone certification from the Certified Medical Travel Professionals (CMTP). This ensures that the highest standards in the industry are met. GHA accredits the top hospitals in the world. These are the best hospitals in the world for quality and providing the best patient experience. Click the link to check out hospitals accredited by the Global Healthcare Accreditation: https://www.globalhealthcareaccreditation.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually happens during hyperstimulation of the ovaries?
The patient will take injectable FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) for eight to eleven days, depending on how long the follicles take to mature. This hormone is produced naturally in a woman’s body causing one egg to develop per cycle. Taking the injectable FSH causes several follicles to develop at once, at approximately the same rate. The development is monitored with vaginal ultrasounds and following the patient’s levels of estradiol and progesterone. FSH brand names include Repronex, Follistim, Menopur, Gonal-F and Bravelle. The patient injects herself daily.
What happens during egg retrieval?
When the follicles have developed enough to be harvested, the patient attends an appointment where she is anesthetized and prepared for the procedure. Next, the doctor uses an ultrasound probe to guide a needle through the vaginal wall and into the follicle of the ovary. The thin needle draws the follicle fluid, which is then examined by an embryologist to find the eggs. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.
What happens to the eggs?
In the next step, the harvested eggs are then fertilized. If the sperm from the potential father, or in some cases, anonymous donor, has normal functionality, the eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish with a nutrient fluid, then incubated overnight to fertilize normally. If the sperm functionality is suboptimal, an embryologist uses Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection to inject a single sperm into a single egg with an extremely precise glass needle. Once fertilization is complete, the embryos are assessed and prepared to be transferred to the patient’s uterus.
How are the embryos transferred back to the uterus?
The doctor and the patient will discuss the number of embryos to be transferred. The number of successfully fertilized eggs usually determines the number of eggs to be placed in the uterus. Embryos are transferred to the uterus with transabdominal ultrasound guidance. This process does not require anesthesia, but it can cause minor cervical or uterine discomfort. Following transfer, the patient is advised to take at least one days bed rest and two or three additional days of rest, then 10 to 12 days later, two pregnancy tests are scheduled to confirm success. Once two positive tests are completed, an obstetrical ultrasound is ordered to show the sac, fetal pole, yolk sac and fetal heart rate.
Embryoscope©
Built into this technology there is a microscope with a powerful camera that allows the uninterrupted monitoring of the embryo during its first hours of life. In this way, we can keep a close eye on the embryo, from the moment when the oocyte is inseminated and begins to divide into smaller and smaller cells, until it can be transferred to the uterus.
Orthopedics Stem Cell
Knee
Research on mesenchymal stem cells regenerative properties in knee osteoarthritis. In these studies, researchers suggest that Stem Cell Therapy has the potential to regenerate lost cartilage, stop and reverse cartilage degeneration, provide pain relief, and improve patient mobility.
Shoulder
Stem Cell Therapy as an Alternative to Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Replacement Surgery. Stem cell therapy may offer an excellent alternative for patients looking to avoid shoulder joint replacement surgery, as well as many other surgical treatments for shoulder pain.
Ankle
If you suffer from chronic or acute ankle pain or instability due to arthritis, cartilage loss, ligament strain or tear, or tendon damage, then you may benefit from non-surgical stem cell treatments or stem cell-enhanced surgery.
Back Pain
Patients now have a minimally invasive option. Stem cell therapy for back pain and disc herniations can potentially repair the damaged disc or facet joint, restore function, rehydrate the disc, and ultimately alleviate chronic pain.
Anti-Aging Stem Cell
Hair Loss
Stem cell therapy and PRP therapy have been shown to be most effective for: Those in the early stages of hair loss, patients who are not viable candidates for surgery and women who prefer to avoid hair surgery.
Facial Anti-Aging
Aesthetic Anti-Aging. The Aesthetic Stem Cell Localized Treatment is a non-surgical minimally invasive procedure to enhance the appearance of aging skin and hair restoration. This all-natural technique combines dermal injections of bone marrow or adipose tissue derived stem cells and growth factors.
Fertility Stem Cell
Endometrial PRP
The stem cells used for treatment of a thin endometrium include mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, successful repair of the endometrium in pregnancy with stem cells has been reported previously.
Low Ovarian Reserve (PRP)
The treatment uses PRP (Platelet-Rich-Plasma), which with stem cell therapy is the novel therapeutic approach for restoring the quality of the ovarian reserve.Your PRP will contain a physiologic balance of platelets, growth factors and white blood cells tailored specifically for you.
Punta Mita Hospital
Mexico
Punta Mita Hospital - Genesis Cell
Mexico
