title: Mini-open lateral retroperitoneal lumbar spine approach using psoas muscle retraction technique. Technical report and initial results on six patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this paper was to report reproducible method of lumbar spine access via a lateral retroperitoneal route.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of the technical aspects and clinical outcomes of six patients who underwent lateral multilevel retroperitoneal interbody fusion with psoas muscle retraction technique. The main goal was to develop a simple and reproducible technique to avoid injury to the lumbar plexus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients were operated at 15 levels using psoas muscle retraction technique. All patients reported improvement in back pain and radiculopathy after the surgery. The only procedure-related transient complication was weakness and pain on hip flexion that resolved by the first follow-up visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psoas retraction technique is a reliable technique for lateral access to the lumbar spine and may avoid some of the complications related to traditional minimally invasive transpsoas approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA, kamranag@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aghayev
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Vrionis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016658:Psoas Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*
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