Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) can be used to treat various lumbar diseases, such as lumbar facet joints intervertebral disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, stenosis. Compared with other approaches, XLIF establishes the surgical channel behind the peritoneum through lateral abdomen, with the advantages of less blooding in the surgery, smaller invasion, lower complications rate and shorter rehabilitation period. Meanwhile，this technique can not only reduce the risk of vascular injury, but also avoid the damage of back structures，such as muscles and facet joints. Therefore, XLIF has been attracting more and more attention and application. However, there is no conclusive evidence to prove that XLIF is better than other surgical approaches in terms of clinical results and complications rates. This paper reviewed the effects of XLIF for reconstructing spinal stability, as well as its biomechanical properties compared with other classical surgeries.