Grade III Spondylolisthesis L5-S1 Treated by Minimally Invasive Spine Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS-TLIF) in a Patient of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

We present a case of a 76-year-old woman on treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, who was bedridden for the past 3 months due to severe neurological claudication. The patient’s radiologic evaluation showed Grade III spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis was treated with minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in which the reduction was achieved with distraction and restoring height at the disc space. She had no claudication on day 0 postoperative, and she was able to walk for 10min and climb a floor of stairs at discharge. At 6 weeks, she was able to carry out her activities of daily living independently. Computed tomography scan carried out at 1-year follow-up showed bony union at L5-S1 interspace. Thus, minimally invasive TLIF carried out for Grade III spondylolisthesis achieved good reduction with the described technique and had excellent functional results at 2-year follow-up.

Keywords

• excellent functional outcome
• high-grade spondylolisthesis
• minimally invasive spine surgery
• oswestry disability index score
• rheumatoid arthritis
• transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion