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Concerned about fusion, have osteoporosis: What are TLIF, ALIF, XLIF?

Posted by annie1 @annie1, Oct 14, 2025

I have consulted many surgeons because I have serious concerns about having fusion since I have osteoporosis. I found out there are at least four types of fusion and I would like to understand them better and what would be the best for me. Can someone elucidate on TLIF, ALIF and XLIF ?

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gilkesl | @gilkesl | Dec 18, 2025
In reply to @annie1 "@kdks99 Actually I live near many major teaching hospitals in New York City and I find..." + (show)
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@kdks99
Actually I live near many major teaching hospitals in New York City and I find the opposite is true they seem to not want to do anything very different all of them are saying fusion except one woman who said I should not have fusion she didn't think it would help me but you didn't have anything else to offer for me except physical therapy that has no effect on my symptoms and she told me to try acupuncture which also had no effect did not help I tried it with several different acupuncture. So I am at a loss for where to go that's why I thought maybe in Europe since they do less fusion that I have no clue as to where to go and what country they would speak English. I was in Spain and had a very rude wake up call that hardly anyone wanted to speak English to me and it was very difficult.

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@annie1 Believe the experts. My expert fixes other doctor's replacement disk problems and they are very serious with potential paralysis. During the surgery, he is obligated to do a fusion anyway.

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annie1 | @annie1 | Dec 18, 2025
In reply to @gilkesl "@annie1 Believe the experts. My expert fixes other doctor's replacement disk problems and they are very..." + (show)
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@annie1 Believe the experts. My expert fixes other doctor's replacement disk problems and they are very serious with potential paralysis. During the surgery, he is obligated to do a fusion anyway.

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@gilkesl
Ok so who is your Dr and you are saying that replacement disc is not very safe?

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annie1 | @annie1 | Dec 18, 2025
In reply to @htolan "Yes, I had scoliosis fusion at Northwestern and I am considered osteoporosis because I have had..." + (show)
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Yes, I had scoliosis fusion at Northwestern and I am considered osteoporosis because I have had so many fractures. Following a CAT scan, my doctor said my spine looked good enough to do the surgery. I believe parts of my body are worse than others as far as my bones go.

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@htolan
Can you please resend me the name of the surgeon? I think you have to send it privately to me on the Mayo connect. Thank you so much

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htolan | @htolan | Dec 19, 2025
In reply to @annie1 "@htolan Can you please resend me the name of the surgeon? I think you have to..." + (show)
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@htolan
Can you please resend me the name of the surgeon? I think you have to send it privately to me on the Mayo connect. Thank you so much

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@annie1 how do I send it privately?

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annie1 | @annie1 | Dec 19, 2025

Actually I found the old post and you sent me his name. Tyler is the first name. So you have osteoporosis or had it at the time of your fusion? And everything worked out okay? In terms of sending things privately I figured it out a while ago but right now I'm just getting up I'll try to coach you through it another time. Thanks

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annie1 | @annie1 | Jan 27 1:02am

A couple of the surgeons I spoke to said they would do a posterior incision and that doesn't fit with what your surgeon told you about how it would be better to do the side incision for someone with osteoporosis. I'll have to ask them about that. I am having injections once a month for the osteoporosis of evenity which has increase my bone density already but it's still osteoporosis I think. I need to have another bone scan. I've been flying all over the country literally to talk to different surgeons and none of them have been as detailed as what you describe from the doctor in Houston which bothers me. Maybe I should see him but that's adding another trip. Anyway I have an appointment with a specialist in Boston who works a lot with osteoporetic spine so I think he should be a good bet. But in the meantime I'm going to ask the other guys why they would do the posterior with my osteoporosis.

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