Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumber interbody fusion and degenerative lumbar spine disease

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease.

Methods

A prospective analysis of 34 consecutive patients who underwent a MI-TLIF using image guidance between July 2008 and November 2010. The patient group comprised 19 males and 15 females (mean age 56), 23 of whom had undergone additional reduction of spondylolisthesis. All patients underwent post-operative CT imaging to assess pedicle screw, cage placement and fusion at 6 months. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were recorded pre-operatively and at 6-month follow up.

Results

33/34 (97.1 %) patients showed evidence of fusion at 6 months with a mean improvement of 27 on ODI scores. The mean length of hospital stay was 4 days. The mean operative time was 173 min.

Complications observed

1/34 (2.9 %) suffered a pulmonary embolism and 1/34 (2.9 %) patients developed transient nerve root pain post-operatively. There were no occurrences of infection and no post-operative CSF leaks.

Conclusion

MI-TLIF offers patients a safe and effective surgical treatment option to treat degenerative lumbar spine disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cloward RB (1953) The treatment of ruptured lumbar intervertebral discs by vertebral body fusion. I: indications, operative technique, after care. J Neurosurg 10:154–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Harms J, Rolinger H (1982) A one-stage procedure in operative treatment of spondylolisthesis: dorsal traction-reposition and anterior fusion [in german]. Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb 120:343–347

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sethi A, Lee S, Vaidya R (2009) Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using unilateral pedicle screws and a translaminar screw. Eur Spine J 18(3):430–434

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Grob D (2009) Surgery for degenerative lumbar disease: transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Eur Spine J 18(12):1991–1992

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gejo R, Matsui H, Kawaguchi Y et al (1999) Serial changes in trunk muscle performance after posterior lumbar surgery. Spine 120:1023–1028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Rantanen J, Hurme M, Falck B et al (1993) The lumbar multifidus muscle five years after surgery for a lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Spine 18:568–574

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sihvonen T, Herno A, Paljiarvi L et al (1993) Local denervation atrophy of paraspinal muscles in post operative failed back syndrome. Spine 18:575–581

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Styf JR, Willen J (1998) The effects of external compression by three different retractors on pressure in the erector spine muscles during and after posterior lumbar spine surgery in humans. Spine 23:354–358

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Foley KT, Lefkowitz MA (2002) Advances in minimally invasive spine surgery. Clin Neurosurg 49:499–517

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Molinari RW, Bridwell SJ, Klepps SJ et al (1999) Minimum 5 year follow up of anterior column structural allografts in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Spine 24:967–972

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mannion R, Nowitzke A, Wood M (2010) Promoting fusion in minimally invasive lumbar interbody stabilisation with low dose BMP-2—but what is the cost? Spine J [E-pub prior to print]

  12. Park P, Foley KT (2008) Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with reduction of spondylolisthesis: technique and outcomes after a minimum of 2 years’ follow-up. Neurosurg Focus 25:E16

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mura PP, Costaglioli M, Piredda M, Caboni S, Casula S (2011) TLIF for symptomatic disc degeneration: a retrospective study of 100 patients. Eur Spine J 20(Suppl 1):S57–S60

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Faundez AA, Schwender JD, Safriel Y, Gilbert TJ, Mehbod AA, Denis F, Transfeldt EE, Wroblewski JM (2009) Clinical and radiological outcome of anterior-posterior fusion versus transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for symptomatic disc degeneration: a retrospective comparative study of 133 patients. Eur Spine J 18(2):203–211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Schwender JD, Holly LT, Rouben DP et al (2005) Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF): technical feasibility and initial results. J Spinal Disord Tech 18(suppl 1):S1–S6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Schizas C, Tzinieris N, Tsiridis E et al (2009) Minimally invasive versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: evaluating initial experience. Int Orthop 33:1683–1688

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Peng CW, Yue WM, Poh SY et al (2009) Clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Spine 34:1385–1389

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Villavicencio AT, Burneikiene S, Roeca CM et al (2010) Minimally invasive versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Surg Neurol Int 1:12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Shunwu F, Xing Z, Fengdong Z et al (2010) Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. Spine 35:1615–1620

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang J, Zhou Y, Zhang ZF, Li CQ, Zheng WJ, Liu J (2011) Minimally invasive or open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion as revision surgery for patients previously treated by open discectomy and decompression of the lumbar spine. Eur Spine J 20(4):623–628

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang J, Zhou Y, Zheng Z et al (2010) Comparison of one-level minimally invasive and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis grades 1 and 2. Eur Spine J 19:1780–1784

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Dhall SS, Wang MY, Mummaneni PV (2008) Clinical and radiographic comparison of mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in 42 patients with long-term follow-up. Neurosurg Spine 9:560–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Isaacs RE, Podichetty VK, Santiago P et al (2005) Minimally invasive microendoscopy-assisted transforaminal interbody fusion with instrumentation. J Neurosurg Spine 3:98–105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Karikari IO, Isaacs RE (2010) Minimally invasive transforminal lumbar interbody fusion: a review of techniques and outcomes. Spine 35:S294–S301

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wu RH, Fraser JF, Hartl R (2010) Minimal access versus open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Spine 35:2273–2281

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brisbane Clinical Neuroscience Centre, The Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Antonio Tsahtsarlis & Martin Wood

  2. The Mater Neuroscience Centre, Suite 5.02 Mater Private Clinic, 550 Stanley Street, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia

    Martin Wood

Authors
  1. Antonio Tsahtsarlis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Tsahtsarlis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tsahtsarlis, A., Wood, M. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumber interbody fusion and degenerative lumbar spine disease. Eur Spine J 21, 2300–2305 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2376-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2376-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation