A new study published in Clinical Spine Surgery examines computer-assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, comparing the procedure to open TLIF for one-level degenerative disease.
The study included 61 patients who underwent one-level TLIFs; 30 patients underwent the computer assisted MIS procedure and 31 had open surgery. The computer-assisted navigation used in the MIS procedures was compared to conventional fluoroscopy in the open procedures. The study authors found:
1. The computer-assisted MIS group reported:
• Significantly less blood loss
• Fewer needed postoperative drains
• Lower transfusion rate
• Less initial postoperative back pain
2. The open surgery patients had longer postoperative hospital stays, but the computer assisted MIS group had longer surgical times.
3. The visual analog score and Oswestry disability index scores were similar between the two groups at every follow-up for the first 24 months.
4. The computer-assisted MIS group had fewer pedicle perforations; 93.3 percent of the computer-assisted MIS group and 73.4 percent of the open group reported no pedicle perforation.
5. There wasn't a significant difference in spinal fusion rates between the two groups.
"CAMISS-TLIF showed several benefits compared with open TLIF, including less intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and pain; earlier rehabilitation; and shorter postoperative hospitalization," concluded the study authors.
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