Transforaminal or posterior lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF/PLIF) is a commonly used technique for spinal fusion in the lumbar region. However, complications with implants—such as cage migration, subsidence, or non-union—can occur. When a revision surgery is needed, using the previous posterior approach can be tricky due to issues like dural tears, nerve injuries, and prolonged surgery times caused by postoperative adhesions. Thus, this study looked into using anterior or lateral/oblique approaches as alternatives to address these complications. Between January 2010 and December 2024, our institution identified 36 cases of failed lumbar interbody fusions that presented with symptoms. These included 12 cases where posterior migration led to dural compression, 2 cases of anterior migration, 17 cases of inferior endplate subsidence, and 27 cases of cage non-union. Among these, 21 patients underwent an anterior approach, while 14 were treated using a lateral/oblique approach. In total, we successfully removed cages in 42 spinal levels across these 36 cases, with favourable radiographic outcomes observed in 30 patients. In one instance, repeated cage subsidence was noted due to an oversized new cage and limited distraction of the prior instrumentation. On average, blood loss during removal via the anterior route was 60.4 ml per level, compared to 171.2 ml per level for the lateral/oblique approach. While spinal fusion is effective for treating spinal conditions, complications like cage non-union and migration can create significant challenges. In such situations, the anterior or lateral approach provides a viable alternative for salvaging failed lumbar interbody fusions.