The Ligamentotactic Effect on a Herniated Disc at the Level Adjacent to the Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion : Report of Two Cases

ABSTRACT

The authors report two cases of spontaneous regression of disc herniation at the level adjacent to the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) level. This phenomenon may be due to the increased tension on the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) by appropriate restoration of the disc height and lumbar lordosis, which is a mechanism similar to ligamentotaxis applied to the thoracolumbar burst fracture.