Predictors of Postoperative Segmental and Overall Lumbar Lordosis in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Consecutive Case Series

Justin K. Zhang, Jacob K. Greenberg, Saad Javeed, Braeden Benedict, Kathleen S. Botterbush, Christopher F. Dibble, Jawad M. Khalifeh, Samuel Brehm, Deeptee Jain, Ian Dorward, Paul Santiago, Camilo Molina, Brenton H. Pennicooke, Wilson Z. Ray

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1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective Case-Series. Objectives: Due to heterogeneity in previous studies, the effect of MI-TLIF on postoperative segmental lordosis (SL) and lumbar lordosis (LL) remains unclear. Therefore, we aim to identify radiographic factors associated with lordosis after surgery in a homogenous series of MI-TLIF patients. Methods: A single-center retrospective review identified consecutive patients who underwent single-level MI-TLIF for grade 1 degenerative spondylolisthesis from 2015-2020. All surgeries underwent unilateral facetectomies and a contralateral facet release with expandable interbody cages. PROs included the ODI and NRS-BP for low-back pain. Radiographic measures included SL, disc height, percent spondylolisthesis, cage positioning, LL, PI-LL mismatch, sacral-slope, and pelvic-tilt. Surgeries were considered “lordosing” if the change in postoperative SL was ≥ +4° and “kyphosing” if ≤ -4°. Predictors of change in SL/LL were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation and multivariable regression. Results: A total of 73 patients with an average follow-up of 22.5 (range 12-61) months were included. Patients experienced significant improvements in ODI (29% ± 22% improvement, P <.001) and NRS-BP (3.3 ± 3 point improvement, P <.001). There was a significant increase in mean SL (Δ3.43° ± 4.37°, P <.001) while LL (Δ0.17° ± 6.98°, P >.05) remained stable. Thirty-eight (52%) patients experienced lordosing MI-TLIFs, compared to 4 (5%) kyphosing and 31 (43%) neutral MI-TLIFs. A lower preoperative SL and more anterior cage placement were associated with the greatest improvement in SL (β = -.45° P =.001, β = 15.06° P <.001, respectively). Conclusions: In our series, the majority of patients experienced lordosing or neutral MI-TLIFs (n = 69, 95%). Preoperative radiographic alignment and anterior cage placement were significantly associated with target SL following MI-TLIF.

Original languageEnglish
JournalGlobal Spine Journal
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2023

Keywords

  • lumbar lordosis
  • minimally invasive
  • segmental lordosis
  • spondylolisthesis
  • transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
  • transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

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