Tlif 1 Level With Decompression and Tlif II Level With Decompression:

A modern technique to spinal fusion surgery is transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). It is a procedure that involves removing an intervertebral disc and utilising screws and a cage to link two or more spinal bones (vertebrae) together in the lower back.

A TLIF Includes following:

Nerves in the lower back are decompressed.

A facet joint is removed.

The intervertebral disc is removed.

Screws are inserted into the bones above and below the disc level to stabilise it (pedicle screws)

By putting a cage filled with bone into the disc space, the spine can be fused (interbody fusion)

A TLIF has significant benefits over both a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and a posterolateral instrumented fusion, which are alternative surgical methods. These benefits will be explained further down.

Disease Overview:

Sciatica

Irritation, inflammation, pinching, or compression of a nerve in the lower back causes sciatica pain. A herniated or slipped disc puts pressure on the nerve root, which is the most prevalent cause. With time and self-care procedures, most patients with sciatica get well on their own.

Sciatica is nerve pain that begins in the buttock/gluteal area and is caused by an injury or irritation to the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the body's longest and thickest (almost a finger's breadth) nerve. It's made up of five nerve roots: two from the lower back, known as the lumbar spine, and three from the sacrum, the last segment of the spine. The five nerve roots produce a right and left sciatic nerve.

A right and left sciatic nerve are formed when the five nerve roots come together. One sciatic nerve goes through your hips, buttocks, and down one leg, ending just below the knee on each side of your body. The sciatic nerve splits into many nerves that go down your leg and into your foot and toes.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

Sciatica causes the following symptoms:

• Pain in the lower back, buttocks, and down your leg that ranges from moderate to severe.
  
• Lower back, buttocks, leg, or foot numbness or weakness
• Pain that becomes worse with movement; inability to move.
• Feeling of "pins and needles" in your legs, toes, or foot.
• Control of the bowels and bladder is lost (due to cauda equina).

Disease Causes:

Sciatica can be caused by a variety of medical issues, including:

• A nerve root is compressed by a herniated or slipped disc. Sciatica is most commonly caused by this. A slipped disc affects around 1% to 5% of all persons in the United States at some time in their life. The cushioning pads between each vertebra of the spine are known as discs. The gel-like core of a disc can expand (herniate) via a weakness in its outer shell due to pressure from vertebrae. When a herniated disc occurs in one of your lower back vertebrae, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
• The normal wear and tear of the discs between the vertebrae of the spine is known as degenerative disc disease. As the discs wear out, their height decreases, and the nerve passages become smaller (spinal stenosis). As the sciatic nerve roots leave the spine, spinal stenosis might squeeze them.
• The improper narrowing of the spinal canal is known as spinal stenosis. The space available for the spinal cord and nerves is reduced as a result of this constriction.
• Spondylolisthesis is the misalignment of one vertebra with the one above it, limiting the aperture through which the nerve leaves. The sciatic nerve can be pinched by the stretched spinal bone.
• Osteoarthritis. In aged spines, bone spurs (jagged edges of bone) can occur and pressure lower back nerves.
• A lumbar spine or sciatic nerve damage is a type of traumatic injury.
• The sciatic nerve is compressed by tumours in the lumbar spinal canal.
• Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle, a tiny muscle deep in the buttocks, tightens or spasms. This can irritate and push on the sciatic nerve. Piriformis syndrome is a rare neuromuscular condition.
• Cauda equina syndrome is an uncommon but deadly disorder affecting the cauda equina, a bundle of nerves near the end of the spinal cord. This condition produces leg discomfort, numbness around the anus, and bowel and bladder control problems.

Disease Diagnosis:

You will be asked to walk during your physical exam so that your healthcare professional can assess how your spine supports your weight. To test the strength of your calf muscles, you may be asked to walk on your toes and heels. A straight leg raise test may also be performed by your doctor. You'll lie on your back with your legs straight for this exam. Slowly elevate each leg and record the spot where your discomfort starts. This test pinpoints the nerves that are impacted and determines if one of your discs is damaged. Other stretches and actions will be requested to localise discomfort and assess muscular flexibility and strength.

Imaging and other tests may be ordered based on what your healthcare professional learns during your physical exam. These may include the following:

• X-rays of the spine to check for fractures, disc issues, infections, malignancies, and bone spurs.
• To examine detailed pictures of the back's bone and soft tissues, use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. An MRI can reveal nerve compression, disc herniation, and any arthritic disease pushing on a nerve. To confirm the diagnosis of sciatica, an MRI is frequently needed.
• Nerve conduction velocity studies/electromyography are used to look at how well electrical impulses flow through the sciatic nerve and how muscles react.
• A myelogram is used to see if the pain is coming from a vertebra or a disc.

Disease Treatment:

The objective of therapy is to help you feel better and move around more. Many cases of sciatica go away over time with relatively basic self-care therapies, depending on the reason.

Treatments for self-care include:

Applying cold and/or hot packs: To minimise pain and swelling, start with ice packs. To treat the afflicted region, wrap ice packs or a bag of frozen veggies in a towel. Apply multiple times a day for 20 minutes each time. After the first few days, switch to a hot pack or a heating pad. Apply for a total of 20 minutes each time. If you're still in pain, try switching between hot and cold packs to see which one works best for you.

The objective of therapy is to reduce discomfort while increasing mobility. Many cases of sciatica go away with modest self-care therapies over time, depending on the reason.

The following are examples of self-care therapies:

Using cold and/or hot packs: To relieve pain and swelling, start with ice packs. To treat the afflicted region, use ice packs or a frozen vegetable bag wrapped in a towel. Several times a day, apply for 20 minutes. After the first few days, switch to using a hot pack or a heating pad. Each time you apply it, leave it on for 20 minutes. If the pain persists, alternate between hot and cold packs, depending on which one helps you feel better.