ALPA Approach or XLIF?

[Tim]

Hi all

Here are some intresting links regarding XLIF - if they've been posted before then apologies..

1. Recorded movie of live XLIF procedure at or.com :
http://www.or-live.com/tgh/2330/#

2. Experience and Early Results with a Minimally Invasive Technique for Anterior Column Support Through eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®):
http://www.touchbriefings.com/pdf/2814/rodgers.pdf

3. Charité lumbar artificial disc retrieval: use of a lateral minimally invasive technique:
http://thejns.org/doi/pdf/10.3171/spi.2006.5.6.556

OK - so if outcome success is largely dictated by surgeon experience how many procedures is enough to become proficient and who are the surgeons who are good at this now?

All the best
Tim