RESUMO
Objectives: This study was done to evaluate the functional outcome of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion [TLIF] as a new technique for treatment of spondylolisthesis and degenerated lumbar disc disease, and the early outcome of the patients
Methods: This prospective study was carried out on 10 adult patients suffering from of spondylolysis and degenerated lumbar disc disease. The patients were admitted to the Alexandria university hospital over a period of 15 months starting from January 2005 to March 2006. The female to male ratio was 3 to 2, their ages ranged from 32 till 55 years with mean age of 42,5. All patients suffered from low back pain, while 9 patients showed signs of root affection and radiculopathy. All patients were subjected to preoperative, dynamic plain X-ray study and MRI of the lumbosacral spine. Eight patients [80%] had spondylolysis and the rest two 2 patients [20%] had degenerated lumbar disc disease. The level L4-L5 was affected in 6 patients [60%] while the level L5-SI was affected in 4 patients [40%]
Results: There was no operative mortality, and surgery did not provoke any permanent neurological aggravation. CSF leak was the mostfrequent postoperative complication [10%].After surgery 8 patients [ 80%] improved, and one patient [10%] stabilized, and one case [ 10%] suffered from exaggeration of back pain postoperatively, also all the patients were independent. Preoperative Prolo score was 14.4 and after surgery was 15.9
Conclusion: TLIF is a less invasive, reliable and safe technique for interbody fusion that can be performed with a posterior approach. It allows good decompression with minimal nerve root retraction. It restore the disc space height with preservation of the lumbar lordosis and augmentation of the posterior tension band via a screw-rod construct