Anterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative lumbar disease: Outcomes and complications

Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a well-established option for selected patients with degenerative lumbar disease, but its complication profile remains a relevant concern in routine practice. This study aimed to evaluate complications and short-term pain improvement after ALIF in a consecutive institutional series. Methods: A retrospective consecutive case series of 39 adult patients who underwent ALIF between May 2021 and October 2025 was analyzed. Primary outcomes were postoperative complications and pain improvement assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative complications, operative time, blood loss, and length of stay. Results: Mean VAS score improved from 9.35 preoperatively to 3.71 postoperatively ( P < 0.0001). No vascular, dural, or nerve root injury occurred intraoperatively. Paresthesia was the most common complication (30.76%), followed by epidural hematoma (7.69%) and sympathetic changes (5.12%). No infection or reoperation was observed. Conclusion: ALIF provided significant short-term pain improvement with an overall favorable perioperative profile in this series.