Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes of Direct Versus Indirect Decompression with Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Matched-Pair Comparison Analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND Advances in operative techniques and minimally invasive technologies have evolved to maximize patient outcomes and radiographic results, while reducing morbidity and recovery time. OBJECTIVE To describe the operative technique for a transfacet minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) as a proposed modification to the standard approach MIS-TLIF. METHODS We present the case of a 72-yr-old man with left-sided lumbar radiculopathy. Preoperative imaging demonstrated degenerative lumbar anterolisthesis at L4-5, with associated canal and neuroforaminal stenosis. The patient underwent transfacet MIS-TLIF at L4-L5. We describe the preoperative planning, patient positioning, incision and dissection, pedicle screw insertion, transfacet approach to the working access corridor, discectomy, interbody device placement, fixation, and closure. RESULTS The transfacet MIS-TLIF utilizes 3 key techniques to safely maximize surgical correction: (1) a limited bony resection based on the superior articular process, leaving the medial inferior articular process, lateral superior articular process, and rostral pars intact, providing a working bony corridor that protects the traversing and exiting nerve roots; (2) decortication and release of the contralateral facet joint to provide additional capacity for indirect decompression and provide the first point of osseous fusion; and (3) placement of an expandable interbody device that provides additional indirect decompression to the working side and contralateral foramen. CONCLUSION The transfacet MIS-TLIF uniquely leverages a bony working corridor to access the disc space for discectomy and interbody placement. Transfacet MIS-TLIF is a feasible solution for lumbar spinal reconstruction to maximize direct and indirect decompression of the neuroforamina and central spinal canal in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases and low-grade spondylolisthesis.

Download Full-text

Short-term outcomes of lateral lumbar interbody fusion without decompression for the treatment of symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis at L4–5

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2017.10.focus17566 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. E6 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Peter G. Campbell ◽

Pierce D. Nunley ◽

David Cavanaugh ◽

Eubulus Kerr ◽

Philip Andrew Utter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Interbody Fusion ◽

Degenerative Spondylolisthesis ◽

Sensory Loss ◽

Motor Deficit ◽

Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Estimated Blood Loss ◽

Indirect Decompression ◽

The Mean

OBJECTIVERecently, authors have called into question the utility and complication index of the lateral lumbar interbody fusion procedure at the L4–5 level. Furthermore, the need for direct decompression has also been debated. Here, the authors report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of transpsoas lumbar interbody fusion, relying only on indirect decompression to treat patients with neurogenic claudication secondary to Grade 1 and 2 spondylolisthesis at the L4–5 level.METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective evaluation of 18 consecutive patients with Grade 1 or 2 spondylolisthesis from a prospectively maintained database. All patients underwent a transpsoas approach, followed by posterior percutaneous instrumentation without decompression. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and SF-12 were administered during the clinical evaluations. Radiographic evaluation was also performed. The mean follow-up was 6.2 months.RESULTSFifteen patients with Grade 1 and 3 patients with Grade 2 spondylolisthesis were identified and underwent fusion at a total of 20 levels. The mean operative time was 165 minutes for the combined anterior and posterior phases of the operation. The estimated blood loss was 113 ml. The most common cage width in the anteroposterior dimension was 22 mm (78%). Anterior thigh dysesthesia was identified on detailed sensory evaluation in 6 of 18 patients (33%); all patients experienced resolution within 6 months postoperatively. No patient had lasting sensory loss or motor deficit. The average ODI score improved 26 points by the 6-month follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up, the SF-12 mean Physical and Mental Component Summary scores improved by 11.9% and 9.6%, respectively. No patient required additional decompression postoperatively.CONCLUSIONSThis study offers clinical results to establish lateral lumbar interbody fusion as an effective technique for the treatment of Grade 1 or 2 degenerative spondylolisthesis at L4–5. The use of this surgical approach provides a minimally invasive solution that offers excellent arthrodesis rates as well as favorable clinical and radiological outcomes, with low rates of postoperative complications. However, adhering to the techniques of transpsoas lateral surgery, such as minimal table break, an initial look-and-see approach to the psoas, clear identification of the plexus, minimal cranial caudal expansion of the retractor, mobilization of any traversing sensory nerves, and total psoas dilation times less than 20 minutes, ensures the lowest possible complication profile for both visceral and neural injuries even in the narrow safe zones when accessing the L4–5 disc space in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Download Full-text

An Algorithm to Predict Success of Indirect Decompression Using the Extreme Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Procedure

Cureus ◽

10.7759/cureus.317 ◽

2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brandon C Gabel ◽

Reid Hoshide ◽

William Taylor

Keyword(s):

Interbody Fusion ◽

Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Fusion Procedure ◽

Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Indirect Decompression

Download Full-text

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion after reduction using the percutaneous pedicle screw system in the lateral position for Meyerding grade II spondylolisthesis: a preliminary report of a new lumbar reconstruction strategy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-29930/v4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Masanari Takami ◽

Ryo Taiji ◽

Motohiro Okada ◽

Akihito Minamide ◽

Hiroshi Hashizume ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pedicle Screw ◽

Interbody Fusion ◽

Visual Analog Scale Score ◽

Lateral Position ◽

Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Percutaneous Pedicle Screw ◽

Indirect Decompression ◽

Grade Ii ◽

The Mean

Abstract Background: Utilization of a cage with a large footprint in lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for the treatment of spondylolisthesis leads to a high fusion rate and neurological improvement owing to the indirect decompression effect and excellent alignment correction. However, if an interbody space is too narrow for insertion of an LLIF cage for cases of spondylolisthesis of Meyerding grade II or higher, LLIF cannot be used. Therefore, we developed a novel strategy, LLIF after reduction by the percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) insertion system in the lateral position (LIFARL), for surgeons to perform accurate and safe LLIF with PPS in patients with such pathology. This study aimed to introduce the new surgical strategy and to present preliminary clinical and radiological results of patients with spondylolisthesis of Meyerding grade II.Methods: Six consecutive patients (four men and two women; mean age, 72.7 years-old; mean follow-up period, 15.3 months) with L4 spondylolisthesis of Meyerding grade II were included. Regarding the surgical procedure, first, PPSs were inserted into the L4 and L5 vertebrae fluoroscopically, and both rods were placed in the lateral position. The L5 set screws were fixed tightly, and the L4 side of the rod was floated. Second, the L4 vertebra was reduced by fastening the L4 set screws so that they expanded the anteroposterior width of the interbody space. At that time, the L4 set screws were not fully tightened to the rods to prevent the endplate injury. Finally, the LLIF procedure was started. After inserting the cage, a compression force was added to the PPSs, and the L4 set screws were completely fastened. Results: The mean operative time was 183 min, and the mean blood loss was 90.8 mL. All cages were positioned properly. Visual analog scale score and Oswestry disability index improved postoperatively. Bone union was observed using computed tomography 12 months after surgery.Conclusion: For cases with difficulty in LLIF cage insertion for Meyerding grade II spondylolisthesis due to the narrow anteroposterior width of interbody space, LIFARL is an option to achieve LLIF combined with posterior PPS accurately and safely.Trial registration: UMIN-Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000040268, Registered 29 April 2020, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000045938

Download Full-text

Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion After Reduction Using the Percutaneous Pedicle Screw System in the Lateral Position for Meyerding Grade II Spondylolisthesis: A Preliminary Report of a New Lumbar Reconstruction Strategy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-29930/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Masanari Takami ◽

Ryo Taiji ◽

Motohiro Okada ◽

Akihito Minamide ◽

Hiroshi Hashizume ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pedicle Screw ◽

Interbody Fusion ◽

Visual Analog Scale Score ◽

Lateral Position ◽

Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion ◽

Percutaneous Pedicle Screw ◽

Indirect Decompression ◽

Grade Ii ◽

The Mean

Abstract Background:Utilization of a cage with a large footprint in lateral lumbar interbody fusion(LLIF) for the treatment of spondylolisthesisleads to a high fusion rate and neurological improvement owing to the indirect decompression effect and excellent alignment correction. However, if an interbody space is too narrow for insertion of an LLIF cage for cases of spondylolisthesis of Meyerding grade II or higher, LLIF cannot be used. Therefore, we developed a novel strategy, LLIF after reduction by the percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) insertion system in the lateral position (LIFARL), for surgeons to perform accurate and safe LLIF with PPS in patients with such pathology. This study aimed to introduce the new surgical strategy and to present preliminary clinical and radiological resultsof patients with spondylolisthesis of Meyerding grade II.Methods:Six consecutive patients (four men and two women; mean age, 72.7 years-old; mean follow-up period, 12.3 months) with L4 spondylolisthesis of Meyerding grade II were included. Regarding the surgical procedure, first, PPSs were inserted into the L4 and L5 vertebrae fluoroscopically, and both rodswere placed in the lateral position. The L5 set screws were fixed tightly, and the L4 side of the rod was floated. Second, the L4 vertebra was reduced by fastening the L4 set screws sothat they expanded the anteroposterior width of the interbody space.At that time, the L4 set screws were not fully tightened to the rods to prevent the endplate injury. Finally, the LLIF procedure was started. After inserting the cage, a compression force was added to the PPSs, and the L4 set screws were completely fastened. Results:The mean operative time was 183 min, and the mean blood loss was 90.8 mL. All cages were positioned properly. Visual analog scale score and Oswestry disability index improved postoperatively. Bone union was observed in all four patients who could be followed up for more than 12 months.Conclusion:For cases with difficulty in LLIF cage insertion for Meyerding grade II spondylolisthesis due tothe narrow anteroposterior width of interbody space, LIFARL is an option to achieve LLIF combined with posterior PPS accurately and safely.Trial registration:UMIN-Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000040268,Registered 29 April 2020,https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000045938

Download Full-text