Operative photograph of laterally inserted dilators. With patient in lateral decubitus position, sequentially larger dilators are shown inserted, penetrating the psoas major, and resting on the desired disc space.(From Ozgur BM, Aryan JE, Pimenta L, Taylor WR: Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF): a novel surgical technique for anterior lumbar interbody fusion, Spine J 6:435, 2006.) SEE TECHNIQUE 37.17