There are many types of<unk>  techniques. Each technique varies depending on the level of the spine and the location of the compressed<unk>  cord/nerves. After the spine is decompressed, bone graft or artificial bone substitute is packed between the vertebrae to help them heal together. In general,<unk> s are done either on the anterior (stomach), posterior (back), or both sides of the spine. Today, most<unk> s are supplemented with hardware (screws, plates, rods) because they have been shown to have higher union rates than non-instrumented<unk> s. Minimally invasive techniques are also becoming more popular. These techniques use advanced image guidance systems to insert rods/screws into the spine through smaller incisions, allowing for less muscle damage, blood loss, infections, pain, and length of stay in the hospital. The following list gives examples of common types of<unk>  techniques performed at each level of the spine: Anterior approach to cervical spine. Cervical spine * Anterior cervical discectomy and<unk>  (ACDF) * Anterior cervical corpectomy and<unk>  * Posterior cervical decompression and<unk>  Thoracic spine * Anterior decompression and<unk>  * Posterior instrumentation and<unk>  – many different types of hardware can be used to help fuse the thoracic spine including sublaminar wiring, pedicle and transverse process hooks, pedicle screw-rod systems, vertebral body plate systems. Lumbar spine * Posterolateral<unk>  is a bone graft between the transverse processes in the back of the spine. These vertebrae are then fixed in place with screws or wire through the pedicles of each vertebra, attaching to a metal rod on each side of the vertebrae. * Interbody<unk>  is a graft where the entire intervertebral disc between vertebrae is removed and a bone graft is placed in the space between the vertebra. A plastic or titanium device may be placed between the vertebra to maintain spine alignment and disc height. The types of interbody<unk>  are: *# Anterior lumbar interbody<unk>  (ALIF) – the disc is accessed from an anterior abdominal incision *# Posterior lumbar interbody<unk>  (PLIF) – the disc is accessed from a posterior incision *# Transforaminal lumbar interbody<unk>  (TLIF) – the disc is accessed from a posterior incision on one side of the spine *# Transpsoas interbody<unk>  (DLIF or XLIF) – the disc is accessed from an incision through the psoas muscle on one side of the spine *# Oblique lateral lumbar interbody<unk>  (OLLIF) – the disc is accessed from an incision through the psoas muscle obliquely Stabilization rods used after<unk>  surgery.
Spinal fusion
Interbody fusion cage
Vertebral fixation
Spinal adjustment
Scalp reconstruction
Rib removal
Distraction osteogenesis
Intervertebral disc annuloplasty