A Study on the Clinical Use of a New Expandable OLIF Cage With Posterior Bone Grafting in Lumbar Spine Surgery

This intervention involves the use of a novel expandable OLIF cage that allows intraoperative height adjustment and posterior bone grafting through a dedicated channel. The device is designed to restore intervertebral height and lumbar lordosis while minimizing endplate injury. Bone grafts (autologous or synthetic) are delivered after expansion to enhance fusion. This design aims to reduce cage subsidence, improve fusion rates, and simplify the surgical workflow compared to conventional OLIF cages with fixed heights.

Participants in the control group will undergo oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) using a standard non-expandable interbody fusion cage. The cage has a fixed height and is inserted via the retroperitoneal approach. Bone grafts are packed into the cage prior to insertion through the anterior or lateral window. This represents the current standard practice for OLIF procedures and does not allow intraoperative height adjustment or posterior graft delivery. The procedure follows conventional OLIF surgical protocols without additional design modifications.