Lateral Approaches for the Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a common cause of lower back pain in people of all ages. When nonsurgical management is unsuccessful in treatment for lumbar spondylolisthesis, surgical treatment algorithms can be used. This article focuses on lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). It represents a minimally invasive approach that affords surgeons an increased ability to restore disc height, indirectly decompress the neural elements, and affect global spinal alignment. As the role for circumferential minimally invasive spine surgery continues to expand, the use of LLIF in the setting of spondylolisthesis-and other pathologies-will continue to represent a robust fusion option.