Researchers conducted a proof-of-concept study for minimally invasive direct thoracic interbody fusion, analyzing perioperative outcomes for the first four patients receiving the procedure, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
The study analyzed the safety and efficacy of MIS-DTIF, with four patients with degenerative disc disease or disc herniation undergoing the procedure. Researchers measured surgery time, blood loss, fluoroscopy time, complications and patient-reported pain.
Here are six takeaways:
1. Those patients receiving single-level surgery experienced mean blood loss of 90 ml, surgery time of 43 minutes, fluoroscopy time of 292 seconds and hospital stays of two days.
2. Two-level surgeries saw mean blood loss of 27 ml, surgery time of 61 minutes, fluoroscopy time of 321 seconds and hospital stays of three days.
3. The researchers did not report any clinically significant complications.
4. At 30 days post-surgery, patients reported a 5.3 point reduction in pain on a 10-point scale.
5. The researchers concluded MIS-DTIF pedicle screw fixation is a safe and effective procedure for thoracic fusions.
6. Next, the researchers want to examine a larger population of patients and study long-term outcomes and costs.