Advanced Surgery for Spinal Nerve Pain or Spine Deformities

Anterior lumbar corpectomy and fusion (ALCF) surgery removes damaged bone and discs — the spongy substance between spine bones (vertebrae) — that put pressure on nerves or affect the curve of your back. This surgery is often used to treat spinal fractures, tumors or infections that compress spinal nerves.

Our USC Spine Center surgeons remove the damaged bone and discs. They correct any curve abnormalities, replace removed material with new bone (graft) and attach the graft to the vertebrae above and below with a plate or screws. As the bone heals, it joins with the vertebrae into a single bone.

We perform the ACLF procedure through an incision on the side of your body to reach your spine. Our precise and skilled surgeons can access the area without moving your spinal cord. That means there’s less risk of spinal cord injury and a higher chance of pain relief. 

Most people go home four to seven days after surgery. Before you leave the hospital, a physical therapist will show you how to safely get in and out of bed on your own to help with your recovery. We make sure you have all the information you need to feel comfortable and heal as quickly as possible.

How ACLF Works