Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages of Posterior and Anterior Lumbar Arthroplasty
| Posterior Lumbar Arthroplasty With 360° Posterior Motion Preservation System | Anterior Lumbar Arthroplasty |
|---|---|
| Deals with all 3 pain generators: disc, nerve, and facet joint | Deals only with disc |
| Can be easily revised via an ALIF | Revision is difficult |
| Approach familiar to spine surgeons | Often needs a separate approach surgeon |
| Fewer contraindications than anterior arthroplasty | Applicable to a limited number of patients |
| Can be done even with facet degeneration | Facet degeneration a contraindication; postoperative facet pain a possibility |
Note. ALIF = anterior lumbar interbody fusion.