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Please share ALIF patient experiences, including recovery

Posted by odder13 @odder13, Jan 10, 2025

I’m scheduled for ALIF surgery in a couple of weeks for severe L4-5 spondylolisthesis. This surgical approach not only involves the orthopedic surgeon- but a vascular surgeon as well ( that essentially moves your guts/protect your vessels while the orthopedic surgeon cages the L4-5..). I’m interested in others that have had this - and what to anticipate recovery wise.

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dawnj | @dawnj | May 5 9:46am

Hi thanks i have a pedicle missing on the left so they need to do something else god knows what, I definitely will keep in contact and let you know hopefully it goes ahead where abouts in the country do you stay im scotland and going to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

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shirleyhibb26 | @shirleyhibb26 | May 6 7:47am
In reply to @profevl "@dawnj - All the best for the 11th. I'm scheduled for my L5-S1 ALIF on 20..." + (show)
Profile picture for ProfEVL @profevl

@dawnj - All the best for the 11th. I'm scheduled for my L5-S1 ALIF on 20 July (I declined all availabilities before then due to work commitments). I'll also have the pedicle screws inserted for increased stability and quicker fusion.
Let me know how you go and, periodically, how you fare recovering.

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@profevl I hope surgery goes well for you!!

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ProfEVL | @profevl | May 6 6:30pm
In reply to @shirleyhibb26 "@profevl I hope surgery goes well for you!!" + (show)
Profile picture for shirleyhibb26 @shirleyhibb26

@profevl I hope surgery goes well for you!!

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Thanks, @shirleyhibb26. While my surgery date is still a few months away, it's certainly a mind-game as the date approaches.

@odder13, my neurosurgeon (not an orthopedic for me) will be doing the vascular component himself because my abdominal aorta (and the vena cava) bifurcates above L5-S1, so will not be in the way. Typical anatomy has the aorta bifurcating at the L4-L5 juncture, so that's a greater need for a vascular surgeon being in attendence.

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