title: Quality-of-life outcomes with minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion based on long-term analysis of 304 consecutive patients.
abstract: METHODS
  This was a prospective clinical study that took place in an outpatient spine clinic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the short-/long-term outcomes from a large cohort of patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Long-term prospective outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive spinal fusion for debilitating back pain has not been well studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presenting diagnosis was determined from clinical findings and radiographical (radiograph, magnetic resonance image, computed tomographic scan) evaluations preoperatively. Patients were assessed with outcome measures preoperatively, and postoperatively at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and annually 2 to 7 years (mean follow-up: 47 mo) final follow-up. The rate of postoperative complications and reoperations at the initial level of MITLIF and adjacent level(s) were followed. Fusion rates were assessed blinded and independently by radiograph.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual analogue scale scores decreased significantly from 7.0 preoperatively to 3.5 at mean 47-month follow-up. Oswestry Disability Index scores declined from 43.1 preoperatively to 28.2 at mean 47-month follow-up. Short-Form 36 mental component scores increased from 43.8 preoperatively to 49.7 at 47-month follow-up. Short-Form 36 physical component scores increased from 30.6 preoperatively to 39.6 at 47-month follow-up (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prospectively collected outcomes study shows long-term statistically significant clinical outcomes improvement after MITLIF in patients with clinically symptomatic spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease with or without stenosis. MITLIF resulted in a high rate of spinal fusion and very low rate of interbody fusion failure and/or adjacent segment disease requiring reoperation while reducing postoperative complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurosurgery, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Mick J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Perez-Cruet
authors.forename: Namath S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: G Zachary
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Begun
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Fahim
authors.forename: Girish K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Hiremath
authors.forename: Fadumo M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Adbi
authors.forename: Sammy A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yacob
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult