Although recent trends favour use of less invasive posterior only approach for most spinal diseases involving dorsolumbar area. Rarely their arises a need that we have to perform anterior surgery in dorsal spine. In the 1950s anterior surgery involved a large abdominal incision in which the surgeon would cut through the abdominal muscles and the peritoneal cavity to gain access to the spine. The peritoneal cavity contains the patient’s intestines. This would require long recovery times.

Today, however, the anterior approach to lumbar spine fusion can be done with a minimally invasive approach.