She has severe progressive back pain w severe loss of disc height below previous Harrington rod fusion done for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis years ago.
II just finished doing the anterior part, removing the narrow degenerative L45 and L5S1 discs, then "jacking up" the disc space back to their original teenage height. I then inserted the Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) cages made out of a special composite material and packed w bone and a bone growth stimulant. Some anterior instrumentation is then inserted to help prevent cage migration. The general surgeon then closes up the anterior part with plastic surgery closure of the small abdominal incision just above pelvic bone.
We just turned her onto her front and are
prepping the back area for second stage. More updates to follow!