title: [Preliminary clinical study on the posterior lumbar minimally invasive surgery assisted by 3D-Viewer system under a direct vision].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the methods and preliminary clinical efficacy of posterior lumbar minimally invasive surgery assisted by 3D-Viewer system under a direct vision and provide rationales for further clinical applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 2008 to September 2009, a total of 84 lumbar degenerative disease patients were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 42 each). One group was treated operatively by 3D-Viewer system under a direct vision while another treated with conventional operations. The lumbar paraspinal muscle approach was employed. Surgery was assisted by 3D-Viewer system under a direct vision. The operative duration, intra-operative blood loss volume, CK (creatine kinase) levels at Days 1 & 7 post-operation, atrophic rates of cross-sectional areas of bilateral multifidus muscles on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) at 12 months post-operation were recorded. At Month 12 post-operation, the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the post-operative clinical effects assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operative duration, intra-operative blood loss volume and CK level at Days 1 & 7 post-operation were statistically different (P < 0.05); there was significant difference in the atrophic rates of cross-sectional areas of bilateral multifidus muscles on MRI and the improvement rates of ODI (P < 0.001); the therapeutic efficacy of the invasive group was significantly better than that of the group treated with traditional operations (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3D-Viewer technique reduces the risk of damage. As an ideal minimally invasive procedure, it may achieve satisfactory outcomes for spinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital, Putian University, Putian 351100, China. cxhcommon@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hai-bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xian-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Rong-yi
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xuan-huang
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted