Laparoscopy-Assisted Mini-Open Lateral Approach for Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to introduce a new approach for anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and investigate the advantages, technical pitfalls, and complications of the laparoscopy-assisted mini-open lateral approach. Thirty-five patients with various disease entities were included. Blood loss, operation time, incision size, postoperative time to mobility, length of hospital stay, technical problems, and complications were analyzed. With this approach, we can reach from T12 to L5 subdiaphragmatically. The blood loss and operation time of patients who underwent simple ALIF were 45.7ml and 82.8 min for one level, 103.2ml and 107.6 min for two levels, 272.5ml and 150 min for three levels, and 520ml and 190min for four levels of fusion, respectively. The complications were retroperitoneal hematoma in two cases, pneumonia in one case, and transient lumbosacral plexus palsy in three cases. The laparoscopy-assisted mini-open lateral approach is an advantageous approach with a very short learning curve. However, special attention is required to complications, such as transient lumbosacral plexus palsy.