title: Contralateral radiculopathy after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
abstract: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an effective treatment for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease. Opposite side radiculopathy after the TLIF procedure has been recognized in this institution but has not been addressed in the literature. We present a case of opposite side radiculopathy after the TLIF procedure. We believe that this complication is related to asymptomatic stenosis on the contralateral side that is unmasked by the increased lordosis of the TLIF. The authors recommend increasing both disc height and foraminal height when choosing an interbody graft, and possibly decompressing the opposite foramen when preoperative MRI demonstrates foraminal stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, PO Box 800159, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0159, USA.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Francis H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Shaffrey
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arlet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000592:standards; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000592:standards; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids