Anterior lumbar interbody fusion, or ALIF, is a surgical procedure in which the vertebrae within the lower spine are repaired utilizing an incision site within the abdomen. During this procedure, at least two vertebrae are joined together by inserting a metal or bone disk in between the vertebrae. ALIF is indicated for patients with chronic back pain who do not experience relief from symptoms following treatment with more traditional methods, such as medication or physical therapy. Patients should talk with a doctor about the potential complications that can occur after ALIF.
Pseudoarthrosis
Pseudoarthrosis is a complication after ALIF that affects approximately 15 to 40 percent of patients, according to Orthopedics International. The term pseudoarthrosis means false joint and is used to describe a vertebral fusion that does not completely heal. The risk of experiencing pseudoarthrosis is greater than 50 percent in patients who smoke cigarettes. In certain cases, patients can still enjoy significant pain relief despite pseudoarthrosis complications. If pain symptoms persist, patients with pseudoarthrosis require additional surgery.
Blood Vessel Damage or Blood Clots
Patients who undergo ALIF can sustain blood vessel damage or develop blood clots within the legs as complications of surgery. Blood vessel damage can affect up to 15 percent of patients and typically results in extensive bleeding or blood loss, Spine-Health explains. Affected patients require prompt surgical intervention to locate and repair the site of blood vessel damage.
Certain patients can also develop thick, sticky masses of blood that adhere to the inside of the blood vessels. These masses, called blood clots, can prevent blood from reaching the vital organs and can cause life-threatening medical complications in affected patients. Patients who develop symptoms of blood clots, such as swelling or pain within the legs or difficulty breathing, after ALIF surgery should seek immediate medical care.
Spinal Nerve Damage
Spinal nerve damage during ALIF surgery can occur as a complication of this procedure, the University of Maryland Medical Center warns. Affected patients can develop body weakness or paralysis after surgery, which can interfere with the ability to move about normally. Symptoms that arise due to mild nerve damage or irritation typically resolve as a patient begins to heal from surgery. Extensive nerve damage or severing can result in permanent weakness or paralysis in affected patients.
Organ Damage
Accessing the spinal column through the abdomen can lead to organ damage complications in people who have ALIF surgery. Rarely, patients may experience heart, kidney or bladder damage. Organ damage is typically recognized and immediately repaired during ALIF, according to Orthopedic International. If organ damage is detected after ALIF, patients may require additional surgery to repair the affected organs.
Sexual Dysfunction
Men who undergo ALIF are at an increased risk of experiencing sexual complications after surgery. Approximately two to three percent of men become infertile due to retrograde ejaculation, a complication in which semen flows backward into the bladder rather through the penile head upon ejaculation. Typically, this sexual complication of ALIF resolves within six to 12 months of surgery, Orthopedic International reports. Rarely, men can experience permanent infertility or impotence.
Infection
An estimated one to two percent of patients who have ALIF surgery develop an infection, Orthopedic International explains. An infection can cause fever or increased pain in affected patients. Patients who develop an infection deep within the spinal cord or pelvic region may require additional surgery or prolonged treatment with antibiotics to resolve symptoms.
References
- Orthopedic International: Anterior Interbody Lumbar Fusion - What Are the Specific Risks of This Surgery?
- Spine-Health: Potential Risks and Complications with ALIF Surgery
- USC Center for Spinal Surgery: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- SpineUniverse: Open Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Maryland Spine Center
