Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Threaded Fusion Cage(TFC)

Threaded Fusion Cage(TFC)를 이용한 최소 침습적 요추체 후방융합술

Objective : In general, to perform posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF), it has been used more invasive procedure than simple discectomy. However we try to perform PLIF with TFC with smaller invasion almost same as in simple discectomy. This study is about its procedure and clinical results. Materials and Methods : The authors retrospectively analyzed 43 cases of minimally invasive PLIF with TFC from July 1998 to May 2000. Operative procedure, operative complication, change of disc height, blood loss, ambulation time, hospitalization period, clinical success rate, and bony fusion rate were analyzed. Results : 40 patients were capable to walk on the 2nd day of the post-operation. The average hospitalization period is 5.6 days. The average blood loss was 0.19L/level with no transfusion or wound drainage. The height of disc changed from 8.84mm to 13.54mm. Clinical success rate is 95% when evaluated by the Prolo's scale. The complication was delayed wound infection(2) and transient paresthesis(1). The bony fusion was shown in 17 patients (94.4%) out of 18 patients who passed one year. Conclusion : As a result of minimally invasive PLIF, pain was decreased and early ambulation and short hospitalization was possible. Complication was similar or lower than other studies, and the bony fusion rate and clinical success rate were also similar during follow-up.