Objective To review the progress in the features, early cl inical outcomes, and cl inical appl ication of axial lumbar interbody fusion (AxiaLIF) for the minimally invasive treatment of lumbosacral degenerative diseases. Methods The l iterature about the features, early cl inical outcomes, and cl inical appl ication of AxiaLIF for the minimally invasive treatment of lumbosacral degenerative diseases in recent years was reviewed. Results Almost 9 000 procedures performed globally in recent years, AxiaLIF has shown its safety and effectiveness because of high fusion rates, short hospital ization days, and less iatrogenic compl ications in comparison with standard fusion procedures. ConclusionPostoperative long-term outcomes, biomechanics stabil ity, and extended appl ication of AxiaLIF still need a further study,though it suggests an original minimally invasive treatment of lumbosacral degenerative diseases.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the outcome of posterior 360° fusion for single-level lumbar degenerative diseases. MethodsA retrospective study was carried on 302 cases of singlelevel lumbar degenerative diseases treated with posterior 360° fusion between September 2009 and September 2013. All patients were divided into 3 groups according to BMI: normal weight (BMI<24 kg/m2) in 105 cases (group A), overweight (24 kg/m2≤BMI< 28 kg/m2) in 108 cases (group B), and obese (BMI≥28 kg/m2) in 89 cases (group C). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, disease patterns, affected segments, preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) among 3 groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and complications were recorded. The lumbar function was assessed by JOA score and ODI at pre- and post-operation (at 3, 6, and 24 months). ResultsThe operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay of group C were significantly more than those of groups A and B (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between group A and group B (P>0.05). The patients were followed up 24-45 months. Postoperative JOA score and ODI showed significant improvements in each group when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among groups at each time point after operation (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of total complications among 3 groups (χ2=3.288, P=0.193). The incidence of incision-related complications (infection and poor healing) in group C was significantly higher than that of groups A and B (P<0.05), but no significant difference was shown between group A and group B (P>0.05). However, there was no significant difference in cerebrospinal fluid leak, pseudarthrosis formation, and revision among 3 groups (P>0.05). ConclusionPosterior 360° fusion for single-level lumbar degenerative diseases can obtain good effectiveness in patients with different BMI, but patients whose BMI was ≥28 kg/m2 have longer operation time, more intraoperative blood loss, longer hospital stay, and higher incidence of postoperative incision-related complications.