title: [Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in treatment of upper lumbar disc herniation: analysis of 18 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effectiveness and advantages of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in the treatment of upper lumbar disc herniation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen cases with upper lumbar disc herniation, 12 males and 6 females, aged 21 - 67, underwent TLIF. Follow-up was conducted for 19.8 months (12 - 54 months). The surgical process, outcomes, and complications were reviewed retrospectively. In TLIF operation, pedicle screw fixation was performed first, unilateral or bilateral facet joints were then excised. Disc removal and titanium mesh or fusion cage insertion were completed via transforaminal approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unilateral TLIF was performed in 14 cases and bilateral TLIF was accomplished in 4 cases. The mean operation time was 82.4 minutes and the intraoperative blood loss was 323 ml. No injury of spinal cord or nerve roots happened during the operation. The follow-up showed that the operation results were excellent in 11 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 3 cases. No worsening or relapse of preoperative symptoms was observed. Disc spaces and lumbar lordosis were restored satisfactorily. No internal fixation failure was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Able to excise disc completely, restore physiological lumbar curve effectively and prevent postoperative instability, TLIF is one of effective surgical treatments for upper lumbar disc herniation for selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, People's Hospital, Beijing University, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Hai-ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui-min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ya-long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Zhao-hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*