Objective To explore the effectiveness of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) for degenerative lumbar scoliosis stenosis by expandable tubular retractor. Methods Between April 2009 and October 2010, 39 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis stenosis were treated. Of 39 patients, 20 underwent MI-TLIF (group A) and 19 underwent open surgery (group B). There was no significant differences in gender, age, disease duration, range of lumbar degenerative scoliosis, Cobb angle, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and visual analogue scale (VAS) between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative independently turning over time, postoperative complication rate, Cobb angle, fusion rates, ODI score, and VAS score were compared between 2 groups. Results The operation time of group A was significantly longer than that of group B (P lt; 0.05), and the intraoperative blood loss of group A was significantly less than that of group B (P lt; 0.05); no significant difference was found in postoperative independently turning over time between 2 groups (t=1.869, P=0.069). The complication rate was 20.0% (4/20) in group A and 26.3% (5/19) in group B, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.219, P=0.640). All patients were followed up 2 years to 3 years and 6 months (mean, 2.9 years). At last follow-up, the fusion rate of bone graft was 92.9% (78/84) in group A and 95.2% (80/84) in group B, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.425, P=0.514). According to the Macnab standard for effectiveness evaluation, the results were excellent in 12 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 90.0% in group A; the results were excellent in 12 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 89.5% in group B; there was no significant difference between 2 groups (Z= — 0.258, P=0.835). The postoperative VAS score, ODI score, and Cobb angle were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05); and there was no significant differences between 2 groups at 2 weeks after operation and last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion MI-TLIF by expandable tubular retractor is an available clinical choice in treating degenerative lumbar scoliosis stenosis. It can obtain the same effectiveness as the open surgery.
Objective To evaluate the cl inical effect of local autogenous bone chips extended with allogeneic bone grafts in the posterolateral lumbar fusion. Methods From March 2005 to April 2007, 22 cases which underwent posterolaterallumbar fusion with allograft bone mixed with local autograft bone were analyzed retrospectively. The postoperative temperature, drainage flow and heal ing time of the incision were analyzed; postoperative lumbar pain was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) and JOA score; the postoperative efficacy was assessed by MacNab criteria and Oswestry disabil ity index (ODI); the fusion rate was defined by Jorgenson fusion criteria. Results All cases were followed up for 17-35 months with an average of 21 months, the wound all healed by first intention; no red swell ing, exudation and infection occurred. The excellent and good rate was 81.8% for JOA score (excellent in 4 cases, good in 14 cases, fair in 4 cases), 77.3% for MacNab criteria (excellent in 4 cases, good in 13 cases, fair in 5 cases) and 90.9% for ODI index (excellent in 3 cases, good in 17 cases, fair in 2 cases). The postoperative X-ray fusion rate within 1 year was 90.9%. Conclusion Allograft bone mixed with local autograft bone can achieve good efficacy and fusion rate in posterolateral lumbar fusion.