Oblique lumbar interbody fusion using anchored spacers in treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases: a primary clinical study

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) surgery using anchored spacers in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases. Methods Total 10 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases treated at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from April 2020 to January 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study. All cases underwent OLIF surgery with anchored spacer. Visual Analog Scales (VAS), Japan Orthopedic Association Scores (JOA) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the pain symptoms and degree of neurology dysfunction improvement, while X⁃ray scan, 3D⁃CT scan and MRI were used to evaluate radiology outcomes and surgical complications during one week and 6 months after the surgery. Results All 10 patients completed the surgery successfully, the mean surgical time was (128.90±35.16) min, and the mean blood loss was (30.00±14.14) ml. VAS (F=332.566, P=0.000), JOA (F=244.125, P=0.000) and ODI (F=36.918, P=0.000) scores during one week and 6 months after the surgery showed significant improvement, compared with preoperative scores. VAS and ODI scores decreased at 6 months after the surgery than that before surgery (P=0.000, for all) and one week after surgery (P=0.000, for all). JOA score increased at 6 months after the surgery than that before surgery (P=0.000) and one week after surgery (P=0.000). The postoperative height of intervertebral space (t=9.406, P=0.000) and area of dural sac (t=8.853, P=0.000) were also significantly improved. At 6 months after the surgery, all patients had bony fusion at the surgical segment, and no complications such as fusion cage displacement, articular surface collapse or disc degeneration at the adjacent segment occurred. Conclusions OLIF surgery leads to satisfactory clinical outcomes in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. The use of anchored spacers can reduce the need for posterior internal fixation, it has no effect on the stability of the surgical segment and has high safety.

Keywords

• spinal diseases
• lumbar vertebrae
• spinal fusion
• neurosurgical procedures