Preliminary report of laparoscopic approach for anterior lumbar inter body fusion / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopy in anterio r lumbar interbody fusion. Methods Twenty-three laparoscopic anterior lumbar int erbody fusions were performed in the period between December 2000 and December 2 002. There were 9 males and 14 females with a mean age of 52 years (range, 46 to 66 years). In this group, there were 18 of spondylolisthesis, 3 of lumbar spina l instability and 2 of degenerative disc treated with anterior lumbar interbody fusion using Syncage and autograft with balloon-assisted endoscopic extraperiton eal gasless exposure. The main complaints were low back pain radiating to leg. 1 3 cases were fused at L4,5 and 10 at L5S1. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) w as recorded to evaluate the function preoperatively, and in the 2nd week, 3rd, 6 th and 12th month postoperatively. X-ray was taken to observe the fusion and the subsided cage. Results The operative time ranged from 50 to 180 min with a mean of 120 min, and the bleeding volume ranged from 50 to 300 ml with a mean of 80 ml. There were complications in 2 cases, one which was caused by laparoscopic mi sguidance, and the other was bleeding due to a small vessel injury. All the case s were followed-up from 12 to 24 months, with a mean of 16.6 months. The ODI was found with significant difference comparing preoperatively to at 2nd week, 3rd, 6th and 12th month postoperatively (P