Degenerative Spine Illness and Lumbar Fusion

Patients with degenerative spine illness and who underwent elective lumbar fusion were recently studied for short and longer term outcomes of the minimally invasive versus traditional surgery.

At 3 months, patients who had MIS fusion had a higher chance of being satisfied with their surgical outcome; but. at 12 months, there was no difference between MIS and traditional surgery satisfaction levels.

Lumbar stenosis, single-level fusion, and the lack of spondylolisthesis were linked to a higher likelihood of MIS satisfaction than open surgery. At 3 months and 12 months, patients in the MIS group had slightly lower ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) scores.

MIS was also linked to reducing leg and back pain at both follow-up times— 3 and 12 months. And MIS was linked to a higher likelihood of satisfaction three months after lumbar fusion in patients with degenerative spinal conditions.

However, at the 12-month follow-up, there was no discernible difference. MIS had a slight but persistent advantage in lowering the ODI score as well as back and leg pain, which was then linked to a lower re-operation rate. The surgical time and incidental durotomy (unintended tears or puncture of the dura mater, the tough outer membrane covering the spinal cord) rate were not different between the two timeframe groups. However, the MIS group had a shorter LOS (hospital length of stay).

Finally, patients who received MIS were less likely to require revision surgery at 12 months.

The details of the research study summary was reported in Physicians Weekly with the full study found here.