Preliminary clinical and radiographic outcomes of oblique lateral interbody fusion combined with percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy for degenerative lumbar disease accompanied by prolapsed disc herniation

Objective: To investigate the preliminary clinical and radiographic outcomes of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) combined with percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) for the degenerative lumbar disease accompanied by prolapsed disc herniation. Methods: From March 2016 to December 2018, 15 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, lumbar spine instability or lumbar spinal stenosis accompanied by prolapsed disc herniation were underwent OLIF combined with PTED in our spine surgery center, including 6 males and 9 females, the mean age was 61.4±7.1 years. Clinical results, radiological parameters, and related complications were collected and analyzed. Results: All patients firstly received PTED with local anesthesia and then underwent OLIF with general anesthesia. All patients were followed up for an average of 14.6±3.7 months. Mean preoperative visual analog scale scores and Oswestry Disability Index scores were significantly improved postoperatively (P<0.05). The radiographic results include the intervertebral disc height, vertical diameter of intervertebral foramen, spinal canal anteroposterior diameter, segment angle and lumbar lordosis angle were significantly improved postoperatively, respectively (P<0.05). None major implant-related and other severe complications were happened. Conclusions: OLIF combined with PTED can successfully enables direct neural decompression without posterior decompressive procedures and might be an alternative minimally invasive surgical option for properly selected patients.