title: Combination of percutaneous unilateral translaminar facet screw fixation and interbody fusion for treatment of lower lumbar vertebra diseases: a follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of sight-guided percutaneous unilateral translaminar facet screw fixation (TLFSF) with interbody fusion for treatment of lower lumbar vertebra diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine adult patients with lower lumbar disease underwent sight-guided percutaneous unilateral TLFSF combined with microsurgical spinal decompression, discectomy, and interbody fusion from June 2007 to June 2008. All 29 patients had low back pain caused by lumbar disc degeneration (20 cases), in situ recurrent lumbar disc herniation (2), primary diskitis (1), lumbar disc herniation with spinal stenosis (3), and first-degree lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (3). Twenty-three cases had lesions at L4,5 ; three at L5 S1 , one at L3,4 , L4,5 , and two at L4,5 , L5 S1 .
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patient experienced significant postoperative complications. The mean incision length was 4.48 ± 0.55 cm; operative time 1.34 ± 0.22 h; intraoperative blood loss 280 ± 175 mL; and postoperative drainage volume 165 ± 85 mL. Screw position results: type I, 21 cases (23 segments); type II, 7 cases (8 segments); and type III, 1 case (1 segment). Twenty-eight patients were followed up for 24-60 months (average, 47.5 months). Interbody fusion rate was 93.5%). Postoperative intervertebral height recovered significantly; however, loss of intervertebral height occurred during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sight-guided percutaneous unilateral TLFSF with interbody fusion for treatment of lower lumbar disease is simple and minimally invasive, with good screw accuracy and security, high fusion rate, and good efficacy. However, specific surgical indications must be strictly followed.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Orthopaedics, Zhejiang General Corps Hospital of Armed Police Forces, Jiaxing, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-you
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jian-qiao
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wei-feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hong-cao
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jian-fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Facet fixation; Fusion; Lower lumbar vertebra; Percutaneous; Sight-guided