title: Minimally invasive surgery for the lumbar spine.
abstract: Minimally invasive spine surgery is a rapidly developing field that has the potential to decrease surgical morbidity and improve recovery compared to traditional spinal approaches. Minimally invasive approaches have been developed for all regions of the spine, but have been best documented for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. Lumbar decompression and lumbar interbody fusion are two of the most well-studied minimally invasive surgical approaches. This article will review both the rationale and technique for minimally invasive lumbar decompression and for a minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).
authors.affiliation: Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. davidgreganderson@comcast.net
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*