The oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) is a new minimally invasive interbody fusion in spine surgery. The procedure is obliquely from the anterior lateral direction through the left lower abdominal extra-abdominal oblique muscle, the intra-abdominal oblique muscle, and the transverse abdominis muscle to enter the extraperitoneal space and place the instrument channel in the physiological gap between the left lumbar muscle front and the abdominal large blood vessel sheath. The OLIF procedure achieve indirect decompression of the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen through the placement of a larger cage to open the intervertebral space. It is applicable to lumbar spondylolisthesis, lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar disc herniation combined with segmental instability and degenerative kyphosis. The procedure has the advantages of minor trauma, shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospitalization time, quicker postoperative rehabilitation, obvious indirect decompression effect and positive clinical efficacy. OLIF can effectively avoid the damage of muscles and ligaments, osseous structures, spinal cord and nerves which may be caused by posterior lumbar interbody fusion. However, as a new technology, OLIF has frequently reported complications such as pain in the donor position, weakness, numbness and pain of hip, endplate fracture, sinking of the cage, injury of the vascular and nerve. This article mainly reviews the anatomical structure, indications, contraindications, clinical efficacy and complications of OLIF surgery.

Lumbar vertebrae; Intervertebral disk degeneration; Spinal fusion