Lumbar fusion

MIS TLIF — minimally invasive lumbar fusion

MIS TLIF (transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) stabilizes the spine and relieves nerve compression through a small, tubular working corridor — protecting surrounding muscle compared to traditional open fusion.

Licensed illustration

Tubular retractor placement
Suggested: tubular retractor placement for MIS TLIF with pedicle screw trajectory overlay.

Who this treats

Degenerative spondylolisthesis Lumbar instability Recurrent disc herniation Spinal stenosis with instability

How it's performed

  1. 01

    Access

    A small tubular retractor is placed through a limited incision, minimizing muscle disruption.

  2. 02

    Decompression

    The compressed nerve is decompressed and the damaged disc is removed.

  3. 03

    Interbody fusion

    A spacer is placed in the disc space to restore height and support fusion.

  4. 04

    Instrumentation

    Pedicle screws and rods stabilize the segment, often placed with robotic or navigation guidance.

Licensed illustration

Interbody construct
Suggested: interbody spacer and pedicle screw construct following MIS TLIF.

Technology used

Globus robotic-assisted surgery

Robotic guidance for accurate screw placement through small incisions.

O-Arm CT navigation

Intraoperative CT confirms hardware position in real time.

Ultrasonic bone scalpel

Precision decompression while sparing surrounding soft tissue.

Recovery & expectations

Hospital stay
Same-day–1 day
Light activity
2–4 weeks
Fusion maturation
3–6 months

Individual recovery varies by procedure complexity, overall health, and adherence to post-operative guidance. Discuss your specific timeline during consultation.

What fusion patients say

Dr. Zaidi has been wonderful through my entire journey from misery to fused. He is kind, patient, answers questions thoroughly, and is up-to-date on new surgical techniques.
Danielle B. · Google review
Doctor Zaidi and his team were excellent in describing the procedure and performing the procedures. This was my 2nd back fusion and if I have to have any other back operations, I will go back to him.
Susan Y. · Google review
Dr. Zaidi is an excellent surgeon. My back was an absolute mess. This is the best I have felt in 2 years. I can finally walk without any pain.
Peggy C. · Google review

Verbatim from public Google reviews, shown with first name and last initial. Individual experiences, not a guarantee of outcome. More patient reviews →

Ready to talk about whether this procedure is right for you?

Request a consult →