A Wide Muscle-splitting Approach to the Lumbosacral Spine

20 patients with lumbosacral disorder underwent anterior spinal fusion using wide muscle splitting approach. The approach has considerable advantages over the usual muscle cutting approach or the transperitoneal approach commonly employed for this incision. The advantages of this approach are as follows: 1. The approach to the lesion site is safe and accurate. 2. The operation field is wide. 3. It is less destructive to the abdominal wall. 4. The defect left in iliac crest after removal of bone graft can be covered with external oblique layer. 5. The exposure given to the L_s-S₁ intervertebral disc is superior to that given by the Rutherford Morrison approach.