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Abstract
Aim: To compare the results of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) versus conventional lumbar interbody fusion in terms of peri-operative and long-term outcome measures.
Design: Retrospective secondary data analysis.
Subjects: The study involved patients who had primary single-level spinal interbody fusion between October 2012 and May 2014 with 1-year follow-up, resulting in 36 patients for MI-TLIF and 60 patients for open surgery.
Method: Patients responded to Euro-Spine (TANGO) forms 12-month post-surgery, which provided the lifestyle factors. Peri-operative factors were retrieved from hospital notes. Operating time, length of post-operative stay, peri-operative complications, mobility, self-care, ability to perform daily activities, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression, back and leg pain were observed in the study.
Results: On average, MI-TLIF patients spent 3.25 days (±0.38) in hospital with conventional surgery patients staying for 6.92 days (±1.13). The average surgical time for MI-TLIF was 260.44 min (±9.95) compared to 297.05 min (±9.28) for open patients. Patients undergoing open surgery were more prone to post-operative complications than MI-TLIF patients (open 43.3%, MI-TLIF 16.7% p = 0.004). The TANGO data show statistical differences in severe pain (open 29%, MI-TLIF 17% p = 0.039), moderate mobility (open 69%, MI-TLIF 53% p = 0.011), and anxiety (open 14%, MI-TLIF 3% p = 0.034).
Conclusion: MI-TLIF appears to have significant advantages over conventional surgery with statistically significant differences in length of stay, perioperative complications and pain, mobility and anxiety levels.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.