title: Clinical outcomes of two minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for lumbar degenerative diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are two modified TLIF, including MIS-TLIF and TLIF through Wiltse approach (W-TLIF). Although both of the two minimally invasive surgical procedures can be effective in the treatment for lumbar degenerative diseases, no comparative analysis has been made so far regarding their clinical outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical outcomes of MIS-TLIF and W-TLIF for the treatment for single-segment degenerative lumbar diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven patients with single-segment degenerative lumbar disorders were included in this study. Forty-seven underwent MIS-TLIF surgery (group A). For group B, fifty patients underwent W-TLIF. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, the visual analog scale (VAS) of low back pain (LBP) and leg pain, MRI score and atrophy rate of CSA, interbody fusion rate were assessed during the postoperative follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incision length, blood loss, operative time, CPK, and postoperative incision pain VAS were better in group A (P < 0.05). The seconds of intraoperative fluoroscopy in groups A and B were 76 ± 9 and 7 ± 2, respectively (P < 0.05). In group B, The blood loss and CPK at L5-S1 were significantly higher than those at L4-5. Postoperative JOA scores, VAS of leg pain, and fusion rate were statistically the same between the two groups. VAS of LBP, MRI score, and atrophy rate of CSA was better in group A than in group B (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both methods are effective in the treatment for lumbar degenerative disease. MIS-TLIF has less blood loss, shorter surgical incision, and less lower postoperative back pain, while W-TLIF is less expensive for hospital stay with lower exposure to X-rays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107# Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yonghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107# Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong Province, China. newyuliu@163.com.
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D061646:Operative Time; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications
keywords: Degenerative diseases; Lumbar; Minimally invasive surgery; Transforaminal interbody fusion; Wiltse approach