Dissection: A Spine Blog

X-ray of cervical spine with surgical implants and annotations on cervical lordosis and vertebral alignment.

Dissecting the latest in spine health and life at Dr. Katsuura’s Spine Clinic.

I try to share interesting and educational concepts in spine care and focus on the joy of medicine and surgery.

This blog is 100% human produced.

Illustration of a spinal segmental unit showing two vertebrae, an intervertebral disc, pedicle, lamina, facet joint, and vertebral body, with labeled parts.

Yoshihiro Katsuura 2/6/25 Yoshihiro Katsuura 2/6/25

The ALIF Procedure, and Why I Love Surgery

In this video, I break down the Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) procedure—its benefits, potential risks, and what makes it a great (or not-so-great) option for certain patients. I’ll share my thoughts on why I love surgery, the precision it requires, and how ALIF can provide life-changing results when done right.

Spinal Fusion Explained

Dr. Katsuura is a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Main, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco explains one of the most common procedures in spinal surgery, the spinal fusion.

In this post and video Dr. Katsuura discusses the basic principles behind the spinal fusion, some common types of spinal fusions, the risks and finally the recovery process.