title: Minimally Invasive Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Spinal Endoscope Assistance: Technical Note.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this report is to describe the surgical methodology and effectiveness of minimally invasive oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) assisted by spinal endoscopy, which can treat disk herniation from the central to contralateral foramen. OLIF showed indirect decompression effects on reduction of spondylolisthesis and a foraminal widening effect on disk height restoration.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the indirect decompression effect of OLIF was augmented by direct endoscopic decompression and spinal endoscopy for removal of herniated disk materials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients with confirmed degenerative lumbar stenosis, herniated lumbar disks, and degenerative spondylolisthesis were treated using OLIF with spinal endoscopic discectomy. Direct ventral decompression was achieved by removal of herniated disk materials. The symptoms of all patients improved postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OLIF with spinal endoscopic discectomy can achieve neural decompression without additional posterior decompression and can be used as an alternative treatment in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Center, The Leon Wiltse Memorial Hospital, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hwa
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Suh
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Center, The Leon Wiltse Memorial Hospital, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Choon-Keun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: md1david@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jin-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D019723:Endoscopes; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Discectomy; Endoscopy; Lumbar disk disease; Stenosis