title: [Unilateral pedicle screw fixation and intervertebral fusion for the treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility and clinical efficacy of unilateral pedicle screw fixation with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for the treatment of far lateral lumbar disc herniation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2007 to January 2011, 18 patients with far lateral lumbar disc herniation underwent a unilateral TLIF procedure in conjunction with posterior unilateral pedicle screw fixation. There were 13 males and 5 females,ranging in age from 42 to 73 years (means 58.5 years). All cases had single segment involved 5 cases in L3, 4, 10 cases in L4,5,3 cases in LSS. The visual analog scale (VAS) of low back pain and leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index scores were observed in postoperative and followed-up period, and compared with preoperative.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operation of 18 patients was successful,there were no severe complication. The average operative time was 105 min (85 to 125 min), the average amount of blood loss was 145 ml (90 to 340 ml). During the followed-up, the visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index scores were significant improved compared with preoperative (P < 0.05). All patients were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of 23 months, there was no implant break and displacement in postoperative X-ray.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surgical procedure of unilateral pedicle screw fixation with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion had the advantage including less invasion, quickly recovery, short operative time, and saving fixation cost, it may provide an alternative treatment for patients with far lateral lumbar disc herniation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, Zhejiang, China. yuwuliang@sina.com
authors.forename: Wu-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jian-Meng
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yong-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Xing-Wu
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*