ArticleSurgical neurology international2017
Learning curves for minimally invasive spine surgeries: Are they worth it?
Article in Surgical neurology international, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluating the learning curve of Minimally Invasive Chevron and Akin Osteotomy for correction of hallux valgus deformity: a systematic review.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Pooled it
- A Low-Cost Device for Teaching Surgical Techniques and Evaluating Technology in Minimally Invasive Surgery.Cureus · 2026Article
- Evolution of Alignment and Clinical Outcomes During One Surgeon's Learning Curve in L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Single-Center Experience.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Reporting the first minimally invasive spine surgery series in Nigeria: a descriptive single-center retrospective cohort study.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Artificial intelligence-based analysis of associations between learning curve and clinical outcomes in endoscopic and microsurgical lumbar decompression surgery.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 · 2024Article
- Article
- Perspective: How can risks to patients be limited during spine surgeons' learning curves?Surgical neurology international · 2024Review
- Use of a High-Fidelity Training Simulator for Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression Increases Working Knowledge and Technical Skills Among Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Trainees.Global spine journal · 2023Article
- Drivers of Cost in Primary Single-Level Lumbar Fusion Surgery.Global spine journal · 2023Article
- Surgeon Learning Curve and Clinical Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Posterior Percutaneous Instrumentation.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2022Article
- Minimally invasive swine spine surgery training: technical aspects, benefits, and anatomical limitations.Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil) · 2022Article
- Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for reducing cognitive dysfunction in lumbar spine surgery: A randomized, controlled trail.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2022Article
- Comparison of short-term efficacy of MIS-TLIF and Endo-LIF in the treatment of single-segment degenerative lumbar diseases.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Article
- Decompression Using Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Associated with Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A Review.Pain and therapy · 2021Review
- Multilevel Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression: Clinical Efficacy and Durability to 2 Years.International journal of spine surgery · 2021Article
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: The Learning Curve of a Single Surgeon.Global spine journal · 2020Article
- What Can Spine Surgeons Do to Improve Patient Care and Avoid Medical Negligence Suits?Surgical neurology international · 2020Article
- An Algorithmic Approach to Treating Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: An Evidenced-Based Approach.Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) · 2019Review
- Current state of minimally invasive spine surgery.Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) · 2019Review
- An assessment of the variation in the practice of lumbar discectomy and its role in axial back pain.Journal of craniovertebral junction & spineArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMinimally invasive surgery (MIS) spine procedures were developed to limit operative time, the extent of dissection, and reduce perioperative morbidity. Here, we asked what are the "learning curves" for these MIS spine procedures?
methodsWe reviewed studies in the literature that discussed the "learning curves" attributed to performing different MIS spine surgical procedures. Of interest, the majority were single-surgeon series.
resultsVery few articles assessed the learning curves for different MIS spine procedures. One study reported no learning curve for open vs. MIS discectomy/laminotomy. Another study indicated that 20-30 cases were required for a surgeon to become proficient in performing a variety of MIS spine fusions [e.g., cervical MIS fusions, MIS anterior lumbar interbody fusions (ALIF), MIS transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIF), and MIS pedicle/screw placement in the thoracic/lumbar spine]. Several other studies specifically cited that, to become proficient in the performance of TLIF, surgeons had to have performed between 10, to 32, to 40, to 44 such cases.
conclusionsThere is a very limited literature available that focuses on the "learning curves" associated with the performance of different types of MIS spine procedures. The number of cases required to satisfy the "learning curves" for different operations varied from 0 for MIS vs. open discectomy/laminotomy, to 20-30 for a variety of cervical-thoracic-lumbar procedures, and up to 44 cases for TLIF. Shouldn't we ask whether better oversight measures and/or mentoring programs could limit the morbidity/AE occurring during these "learning curves" in the future?
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.