Retroperitoneal Exposure of the Anterior Lumbar Spine.

BACKGROUND

Anterior lumbar spine procedures such as anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) are used commonly to treat multiple pathologies, including pseudoarthrosis and degenerative disk disease. It is generally a safe and effective procedure, but an anterior approach to the lumbar spine requires critical navigation of the surgical window to avoid delicate structures. An operative technique should maximize the exposure without an increased risk of iatrogenic injury.

OBJECTIVE

To describe in detail a retroperitoneal exposure of the anterior lumbar spine.

METHODS

This surgical approach is a unique variation of standard anterior lumbar spine exposure techniques. This technique is described and illustrated in detail with an accompanying Supplemental Digital Content: video. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was not required because this is a variation of current techniques. Patient consent was obtained for the procedure and use of operative pictures and videos.

RESULTS

Precise details of the technique are described. The surgical video demonstrates the technique for the L5-S1 ALIF approach.

CONCLUSION

This technique is a novel variation of the standard retroperitoneal exposure of the anterior lumbar spine. The incision placement, size, and dynamic blunt retraction of this approach limit tissue disruption and provide an efficient exposure that has not been previously described in the literature.