An Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion or ALIF (pronounced, A-lif), is a spinal fusion surgery for the lower back to remove a problematic disc and to take pressure off the nerves. In ALIF, the spine is approached from the front of the body. It is performed through the abdomen, usually with the assistance of a vascular surgeon to move the major blood vessels out of the way. ALIF is sometimes paired with a posterior (from the back) fusion surgery on the same day. An ALIF is considered only after non-surgical treatments have failed.