Objective: Degenerative lumbar spine disease affects millions worldwide, substantially diminishing quality of life. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) has emerged as a preferred alternative to open TLIF, offering reduced morbidity and improved cosmetic and functional outcomes. This study investigated the long-term outcomes of MIS-TLIF in patients with lumbar degenerative disease.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 180 patients who underwent MIS-TLIF between 2009 and 2014. Inclusion criteria comprised persistent back and leg pain unresponsive to conservative management, single- or double-level lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis, and at least 5-year follow-up. Patients with prior spinal instrumentation, trauma, or multilevel disease were excluded. All procedures were performed using tubular retractors and a microscope, with pedicle screws inserted over guidewires. Parameters assessed included estimated blood loss, operative time, hospital stay, complications, and revisions. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Long-term complications and fusion rates were also analysed.Results: MIS-TLIF resulted in significant improvement in VAS and ODI scores at final follow-up (p<0.05). The overall complication rate was 5%, and the incidence of adjacent segment disease was 8.8%, both comparable to or better than rates reported in the literature. The technique preserved pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis while reducing tissue injury, blood loss, and length of hospitalisation compared to open TLIF.Conclusion: MIS-TLIF is a safe and effective technique for lumbar degenerative disease, offering superior long-term functional outcomes, lower complication rates, and expedited recovery in well-selected patients.
Macwan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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