title: [Transforaminal lumbar intervertebral fusion in the treatment of thoracolumbar disc herniation: technique feasibility and radiological outcomes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility, safety and efficacy of treating thoracolumbar disc herniation with transforaminal lumbar intervertebral fusion (TLIF).
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2009 to May 2013, 15 consecutive patients with one-level thoracolumbar disc herniation underwent TLIF. There were 9 males and 6 females with an average age of 41.2 (25-72) years. According to the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) criteria and Frankel grading system, it was evaluated for the clinical effects of all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average operative duration was 140 (115-180) min and mean blood loss volume 329 (100-500) ml. The symptoms improved all greatly over an average follow-up period of 19 (3-44) months. According to the JOA criteria system, the outcomes were excellent (n = 9, 60%), good (n = 4, 26.6%) and fair (n = 2, 13.4%). Based on the Frankel grading system, 2 cases were classified as A (n = 2), 2 as B (n = 2), 4 as C (n = 4) and 7 as D (n = 7) preoperatively versus B (n = 1), C (n = 1), D (n = 4) and E (n = 9) postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined approach of TLIF plus posterior laminectomy is anatomically simple, visually distinct, relatively safe, reliable and efficacious in treatment of thoracolumbar disc herniation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China. Email: andyzhao99@163.com.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Shucai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Zhanhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D016896:Treatment Outcome