Judy, the ALIF is almost the same surgery as an ADR. The recovery is a bit more difficult because you'll have more restrictions, more bracing, etc... because you have to protect the fusion.
It can be slightly less invasive because they don't need to get a straight shot at the disc space like they do with most of the ADR's, so the exposure is a little easier.
Is there any discussion of XLIF instead of ALIF? Perhaps the difficulties of your case motivate the doctors to go for the anterior approach because they may be able to get a more solid construct than they can with XLIF... but I'd ask about it. (I'm not suggesting that this is a better option... just something to discuss.)
Remember... I'm not a doctor.. yada, yada, yada... take everything I say with a grain of salt.
Mark
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