Lumbar spinal fusion: advantages of posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

From its inception in 1911, the topic of spinal fusion has seemingly been shrouded in controversy. In that year, Dr. Russell Hibbs performed the first human spinal fusion on a patient with spinal tuberculosis. This spawned a debate over the procedure that led to the denial of Hibbs' membership to the American Orthopedic Association. The procedure (and Hibbs' appointment to the AOA) was validated by the Association after ten years of debate. The debate over spinal fusions is manifold to this date. The literature is replete with differing opinions regarding the indications, techniques and outcomes of spinal fusions. The topic is further compounded by the fact that the specifics of a spinal fusion are often distinct to the area of the spine fused.