The lateral lumbar interbody fusion, or extreme lateral interbody fusion, approach can be expanded to treat thoracic spine diseases, according to a study published in The Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
Researchers studied 22 patients with isolated thoracic and thoracolumbar spine disease using the XLIF technique. A total of 47 levels were treated in the patients, who were indicated for degenerative scoliosis, pathological fractures from tumors, adjacent level disease from prior fusion, thoracic disc herniation and discitis/osteomyelitis.
The average blood loss among the patients was 227.5 ML, and the average length of stay was 4.8 days. There were three complications recorded, one of which required an additional procedure. There was no neural, vascular, visceral injuries or death reported. All patients demonstrated good radiographic evidence of fusion.
There was less deformity correction achieved through this approach than the traditional surgeries, but the minimally invasive nature of XLIF makes it more tolerable for older patients or patients with significant comorbidities.
Read the abstract about XLIF.
Related Articles on XLIF:
XLIF Procedure Now Covered By CIGNA and Humana
10 Spine and Neurosurgeons Performing XLIF
Study: XLIF a Safe, Cost-Saving Spinal Procedure
The average blood loss among the patients was 227.5 ML, and the average length of stay was 4.8 days. There were three complications recorded, one of which required an additional procedure. There was no neural, vascular, visceral injuries or death reported. All patients demonstrated good radiographic evidence of fusion.
There was less deformity correction achieved through this approach than the traditional surgeries, but the minimally invasive nature of XLIF makes it more tolerable for older patients or patients with significant comorbidities.
Read the abstract about XLIF.
Related Articles on XLIF:
XLIF Procedure Now Covered By CIGNA and Humana
10 Spine and Neurosurgeons Performing XLIF
Study: XLIF a Safe, Cost-Saving Spinal Procedure