title: Comparison between minimally invasive and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes between minimally invasive and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective clinical study of24 consecutive cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis treated by minimally invasive TLIF (n = 12) or open TLIF (n = 12) was done at Ramathibodi Hospital between June 2008 and December 2009. The following parameters were compared between the two groups, clinical and radiographic outcomes, blood loss, operative time, length of hospital stay, and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average duration of follow-up was 28 months (range, 24 months to 38 months). There was significantly less intra-operative blood loss in minimally invasive TLIF group comparing to open TLIF group (317 cc vs. 645.83 cc: p-value = 0.04). No significant difference was observed in clinical outcomes (VAS or ODI at 2years), radiographic outcome (91.67% fusion rate in both groups), operative time (340 minutes vs. 324 minutes: p-value = 0.96) length of hospital stay (8.42 days vs. 8.33 days: p-value = 0.09) and major complication (8.33% in both groups) between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive TLIF has similar clinical outcomes and fusion rate compared to open TLIF with additional benefit of less intra-operative blood loss. However the operative field of this technique is limited so thorough knowledge of anatomy in this region is required
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. kriangsak.saetia@windowslive.com
authors.forename: Kriangsak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saetia
authors.forename: Anuchit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phankhongsab
authors.forename: Verapan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuansongtham
authors.forename: Sompoch
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paiboonsirijit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome