Original article
English
Hossam Salah ¹, Hesham Ben Khayal ²
1-Orthopaedic department, Cairo University, Egypt. 2-Department of Neurosurgery, Ali Omar Askar Neurospinal Centre, Sbea, Libya
JMJ Vo1. 8 No.4 (Winter) 2008:275-279
Abstract
Fifty five patients underwent transforaminal lumbar inter-body fusion (TLIF) for segmental lumbar instability. Twenty eight males and twenty seven females with a mean age of 36 years. The preoperative diagnosis was (lytic spondylolisthesis (30) and degenerative spondylolisthesis(13) and failed back surgery(12). Forty seven patients underwent a single level, and eight had a two level TLIF. The mean follow-up was 28 months. 91% were rated good to excellent and 9% fair outcome using a visual analogue rating, the use of pain medication and percentage of return to premorbid work activity. Fifty patients (91%) were satisfied with the overall outcome of their surgery. Fifty eight levels (92%) showed probable or definite fusion at final follow up. Minimal complications were noted in this series. In conclusion: This technique is a reliable and safe way of achieving inter-body fusion. Working transforaminally far lateral outside the canal minimizes neurological risks, associated with dural retraction. The use of a unilateral portal leaves the opposite side available as a bed for bone graft.
Keywords: Transforaminal, Interbody fusion, Lumbar cage.
Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/PDF/winter2008/275.pdf