Comparison of peri-operative and 12-month lifestyle outcomes in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus conventional lumbar fusion.

AIM: To compare the results of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) versus conventional lumbar interbody fusion in terms of peri-operative and long-term outcome measures.

DESIGN: Retrospective secondary data analysis.

SUBJECTS: The study involved patients who had primary single-level spinal interbody fusion between October 2012 and May 2014 with 1-year follow-up, resulting in 36 patients for MI-TLIF and 60 patients for open surgery.

METHOD: Patients responded to Euro-Spine (TANGO) forms 12-month post-surgery, which provided the lifestyle factors. Peri-operative factors were retrieved from hospital notes. Operating time, length of post-operative stay, peri-operative complications, mobility, self-care, ability to perform daily activities, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression, back and leg pain were observed in the study.

RESULTS: On average, MI-TLIF patients spent 3.25 days (±0.38) in hospital with conventional surgery patients staying for 6.92 days (±1.13). The average surgical time for MI-TLIF was 260.44 min (±9.95) compared to 297.05 min (±9.28) for open patients. Patients undergoing open surgery were more prone to post-operative complications than MI-TLIF patients (open 43.3%, MI-TLIF 16.7% p = 0.004). The TANGO data show statistical differences in severe pain (open 29%, MI-TLIF 17% p = 0.039), moderate mobility (open 69%, MI-TLIF 53% p = 0.011), and anxiety (open 14%, MI-TLIF 3% p = 0.034).

CONCLUSION: MI-TLIF appears to have significant advantages over conventional surgery with statistically significant differences in length of stay, perioperative complications and pain, mobility and anxiety levels.