[Anterior lumbar interbody fusion for low back pain]

There are various causes of low back pain, but if the cause of low back pain was determined as a discogenic pain, anterior lumbar interbody fusion was indicated. The surgical treatment should be determined after MRI and other radiological imaging studies and pain response, and also it is important to examine the social factor and psychological status. Extra-peritoneal approach is selected for above L(4)-L(5) level, and trans-peritoneal approach is selected for L(5)-S(1). Recent endoscopic approaches to the anterior lumbar spine is also presented.