approach (4). In 2002, Foley and Lefkowitz enhanced the same concept by means of the implementation of a minimally invasive TLIF (MI-TLIF) with the goal to reduce tissue damages, at the same time achieving both neural decompression and adequate interbody fusion (2). █ INTRODUCTION Minimally invasive surgery has gained popularity over the last decades. In 1982, Harms and Rolinger developed the t...

BACKGROUND Initial promise of a stand-alone interbody fusion cage to treat chronic back pain and restore disc height has not been realized. In some instances, a posterior spinal fixation has been used to enhance stability and increase fusion rate. In this manuscript, a new stand-alone cage is compared with conventional fixation methods based on the finite element analysis, with a focus on inves...

INTRODUCTION Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is a minimally disruptive alternative for anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Recently, synthetic and allograft materials have been increasingly used to eliminate donor-site pain and complications secondary to autogenous bone graft harvesting. The clinical use of allograft cellular bone graft has potential advantages over autograft by eliminati...

AIM Our goal was to investigate the long-term results of anterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar instability. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-seven patients that had undergone anterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar instability at Tianjin Hospital between May 2003 a...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis. PURPOSES To introduce the mini-open lateral approach for the anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), and to investigate the advantages, technical pitfalls and complications by providing basic knowledge on extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) or direct lumbar interbody fusion (DLIF). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE Recently, minimally invasive lateral approach...

The authors retrospectively evaluated 30 patients with an anterior cervical interbody fusion for cervical spondylosis or disc herniation. Open box carbon fiber cages were used at 45 levels. The visual analogue scales (VAS), respectively for neck and for arm pain, and the neck disability index (NDI) improved significantly (p < 0.001). Fusion occurred in 87% of the operated levels. Subsidence of ...

L5S1 fracture-dislocations are rare three-column injuries. The infrequency of this injury has led to a lack of a universally accepted treatment strategy. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has been shown to be an effective approach for interbody fusion in degenerative indications, but has not been previously reported in the operative management of traumatic lumbosacral dislocation. T...

Minimally invasive techniques for lumbar spine fusion have been developed in an attempt to decrease the complications related to traditional open exposures (eg, infection, wound healing problems). Anterior minimally invasive procedures include laparoscopic and mini-open anterior lumbar interbody fusion as well as the lateral transpsoas and percutaneous presacral approaches. Posterior techniques...