INTERLAMINAR LUMBAR INSTRUMENTAL FUSION: ILIF
Overview
The spine is made up of many nerves and bones. When any of them become damaged, serious pain and movement issues can result. Injuries to the lumbar area can be especially concerning. Luckily, a treatment procedure called ILIF: Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion can help.
Anatomy
The lower part of your spine is classified as the lumbar spine. This region comprises a collection of muscles, soft tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. Additionally, the lumbar spine consists of five bones known as vertebra. These bones protect the section of your spine known as the lamina.

The lamina and lower spine perform several essential functions such as:
- Enabling your back to move in different directions.
- Protect surrounding nerves making up your spinal cord.
- Controlling leg movements.
- Supporting the upper body’s weight, especially the head and neck.
- Additionally, the lumbar spine allows the body to place weight on your legs.
Description
When the lumbar vertebra weaken, many bothersome and potentially even serious symptoms can result. ILIF: Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion can be performed to help alleviate them.
Causes of Lumbar Injuries
Several issues can cause the weakening of your lumbar vertebra. Common problems include:
- Age. As you age, the strength and structure of your vertebra tend to decrease.
- Trauma. Significant physical trauma caused by acute events like automobile accidents, falls, or strenuous physical contact can result in serious and immediate lumbar damage.
- Medical Conditions. Sometimes, certain illnesses result in lumbar degeneration. One common cause is arthritis, which gradually destroys the disks contained inside the vertebra. Another common underlying problem is spondylolisthesis, which causes the disks contained inside vertebra to shift out of position and adversely impact surrounding structures.
If left untreated, lumbar damage could progress to the point where deformed or diseased vertebra can press against the surrounded spinal cord. In medical terms, this condition is known as spinal stenosis.

Symptoms
The symptoms you experience often depend on how severe your lumbar is injured or diseased. The most common occurrence you are likely to feel is lower back pain. This discomfort can worsen when you stand or exercise.
Additionally, you might encounter other problems, including:
- Discomfort that spreads to other body parts like your legs, buttocks, and thighs.
- Acute cramping in the lower back, legs, and thighs.
- Muscle weakness in your lower back and surrounding body parts.
- Pain may lessen when you sit or bend down.
- In moderate to severe cases, you may also experience tingling or numbness in your legs. These occurrences might significantly limit your ability to walk or perform basic tasks.

Diagnosis
Lower back pain and several other symptoms associated with lumbar degeneration and spinal stenosis are common to many other conditions. Your doctor will need to perform a thorough physical examination before confirming the condition. This assessment might start with your physician asking you questions such as:
- When did the pain begin?
- Where do you feel it most?
- Does the discomfort spread to other regions?
- Have you experienced any recent back trauma?
- If you have ever been diagnosed with any illnesses or physical injuries?
If your doctor thinks you might have lumbar issues or spinal stenosis, they might ask you to perform various movement tests to measure your pain threshold and range of motion.
Your doctor will often verify the diagnosis after viewing the results of imaging tests like X-Rays, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans), or CT scan (Computerized Tomography) which capture internal images of your lower back and spine. Any damage or disease should be detectable after using these diagnostic tools.
ILIF: Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion Procedure
If your doctor concludes that your lumbar vertebra are severely ailing or injured, or that your symptoms significantly interfere with your life, the ILIF procedure might be indicated. ILIF is often favored by surgeons and patients alike because it is considered minimally invasive.
A surgeon begins this process by making an incision in your back directly over the location of the damaged vertebra.
Once the initial incision is made, the surgeon then removes materials located between the vertebra known as lamina and spinous process.
When this material is removed, bone grafts are created and inserted into the vacated spaces. This is designed to protect surrounding nerves and enable the bone fusion process to occur.
Metal implants are then inserted over grafted bones. This is done to speed up the process in which vertebra and grafted bones join together.
The surgeon completes the process by stitching and bandaging the incision site.
In most instances, you return home either the same or the following day. Unlike invasive spinal decompression surgeries, ILIF involves minimal blood loss, a quicker recovery time, less scarring, a reduced amount of post-surgical pain, and a far quicker return to your daily routine.
Next Steps
If you have been diagnosed with lumbar problems or spinal stenosis and believe you may be a candidate for ILIF, we encourage you to contact us. Our team of specially trained, highly experienced spinal specialists will evaluate your case and determine if this procedure is right for you. Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician today to learn more about ILIF: Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion.
Areas of Focus
- Spine
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Bone Cement Injection
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Foraminotomy
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Fusion
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Vertebroplasty
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in ILIF: Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa - Fluid In Elbow
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Deep Thigh Bruising
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries & Inner Elbow Pain in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Groin Strains and Pulls
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- Hamstring Injuries
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder
- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hip Pointers and Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliopsoas Tenotomy
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Joint Replacement
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Little League Shoulder
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- MACI
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Muscle Strains of The Calf
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist? Definition of a Podiatrist
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow Treatment
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Tricep Pain & Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
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