How does indirect neural decompression through oblique lateral interbody fusion impact patient outcomes?
A study published in spine examined 28 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for degenerative conditions. The procedure was oblique lateral interbody fusion combined with pedicle screw fixation without neuromonitoring. There were 52 lumbar levels treated.
The researchers found:
1. All 28 patients underwent the procedure successfully without complication, and there was clinical improvement in all cases.
2. The average cross-sectional area of the thecal sac increased from 99.6 square mm preoperatively to 134.3 square mm postoperatively.
3. The average cross-sectional area of the thecal sac extension ratio was 30.2 percent. This correlated inversely with the preoperative CSA.
4. The disc height, segmental disc angle and clinical results improved significantly.
5. The preoperative CSA was the only independent factor correlating inversely with the CSA extension ratio, the researchers found after in a multivariate regression analysis.
"Spinal stenosis was resolved successfully by indirect decompression through a miniopen anterolatera retroperitoneal approach without the need for neuromonitoring," concluded the study authors.