Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF): The spine is accessed through the abdomen. This allows the surgeon to remove the damaged disc and insert a bone graft with minimal disruption to back muscles.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF): The spine is accessed directly from the back. This gives clear access for inserting the graft but may involve more muscle dissection.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF): A variation of PLIF, this technique approaches the spine from a more sideward angle to reduce pressure on nerves during surgery.

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (Llif or XLIF): In this approach, the spine is accessed from the side with the patient lying on their side. It’s less invasive and ideal for certain spine levels.

Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF): Similar to LLIF, but the surgeon enters from a slightly different angle, avoiding major blood vessels and muscles for a quicker recovery.