ArticleSurgical neurology international2016
More nerve root injuries occur with minimally invasive lumbar surgery, especially extreme lateral interbody fusion: A review.
Article in Surgical neurology international, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Prognostic factors for outcome following lumbar spine fusion surgery: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2022Pooled it
- Evidence-based management of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC): expert recommendations for standardizing care in Spain.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026Review
- Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic en Bloc Resection of the Lumbosacral Ligament Following Bony Release: A Technique Aiming to Reduce Dorsal Root Ganglion Manipulation.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Force-limited distance-measurable nerve root retractor plus intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring reduces L5 radiculitis in posterior lumbar interbody fusion.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Stretch neuropraxia after L5-S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion: effect of cage height and lordosis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Article
- Minimally-invasive trans-facet lumbar interbody fusion using a dual-dimension expandable cage: preliminary results of a multi-institutional retrospective study.Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) · 2024Article
- Article
- Contralateral radiculopathy after unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: causes and prevention.The Journal of international medical research · 2021Article
- Full Endoscopic Lumbar Transforaminal Interbody Fusion in DDD Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: A Latest Technique.International journal of spine surgery · 2021Article
- Biologics and Minimally Invasive Approach to TLIFs: What Is the Risk of Radiculitis?International journal of spine surgery · 2020Article
- Lower complication and reoperation rates for laminectomy rather than MI TLIF/other fusions for degenerative lumbar disease/spondylolisthesis: A review.Surgical neurology international · 2018Review
- Learning curves for minimally invasive spine surgeries: Are they worth it?Surgical neurology international · 2017Article
- High neurological complication rates for extreme lateral lumbar interbody fusion and related techniques: A review of safety concerns.Surgical neurology international · 2016Article
- Extreme lateral lumbar interbody fusion: Do the cons outweigh the pros?Surgical neurology international · 2016Article
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Abstract
backgroundIn the lumbar spine, do more nerve root injuries occur utilizing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques versus open lumbar procedures? To answer this question, we compared the frequency of nerve root injuries for multiple open versus MIS operations including diskectomy, laminectomy with/without fusion addressing degenerative disc disease, stenosis, and/or degenerative spondylolisthesis.
methodsSeveral of Desai et al. large Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial studies showed the frequency for nerve root injury following an open diskectomy ranged from 0.13% to 0.25%, for open laminectomy/stenosis with/without fusion it was 0%, and for open laminectomy/stenosis/degenerative spondylolisthesis with/without fusion it was 2%.
resultsAlternatively, one study compared the incidence of root injuries utilizing MIS transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) techniques; 7.8% of PLIF versus 2% of TLIF patients sustained root injuries. Furthermore, even higher frequencies of radiculitis and nerve root injuries occurred during anterior lumbar interbody fusions (ALIFs) versus extreme lateral interbody fusions (XLIFs). These high frequencies were far from acceptable; 15.8% following ALIF experienced postoperative radiculitis, while 23.8% undergoing XLIF sustained root/plexus deficits.
conclusionsThis review indicates that MIS (TLIF/PLIF/ALIF/XLIF) lumbar surgery resulted in a higher incidence of root injuries, radiculitis, or plexopathy versus open lumbar surgical techniques. Furthermore, even a cursory look at the XLIF data demonstrated the greater danger posed to neural tissue by this newest addition to the MIS lumbar surgical armamentariu. The latter should prompt us as spine surgeons to question why the XLIF procedure is still being offered to our patients?
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