The lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) approach is a minimally invasive surgery that can be used as an alternative to traditional lumbar interbody fusion techniques. LLIF accesses the intervertebral disc through the retroperitoneum and psoas muscle to avoid major vessels and visceral organs. The exposure of retroperitoneal structures during LLIF leads to unique complications compared with other surgical approaches. An understanding of the surgical technique and its associated potential complications is necessary for radiologists who interpret imaging before and after LLIF. Pre-operative imaging must carefully assess the location of anatomical structures, including major retroperitoneal vasculature, lumbar nerve roots, lumbosacral plexus, and genitofemoral nerve, relative to the psoas. Multiple imaging modalities can be used in postoperative assessment, including plain radiograph, CT, CT myelography, and MRI. Of these, CT is the preferred modality, assessing a range of complications relating to both the retroperitoneal exposure and the spinal instrumentation, as well as bone integrity and fusion status. This article describes surgical approaches for lumbar interbody fusion, comparing the approaches’ indications, contraindications, advantages, and disadvantages; reviews the surgical technique of LLIF and relevant anatomical considerations; and illustrates for interpreting radiologists the normal postoperative findings as well as potential postsurgical complications of LLIF.