Oblique Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) are two commonly used procedures for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases, but the efficacy of the two procedures is not clear. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for controlled studies of OLIF and TLIF in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. Include all articles published before Oct 2022. Two researchers conducted quality evaluation and data extraction on the research respectively. Results: This meta-analysis finally included 27 studies. The VAS and ODI scores of the two groups decreased significantly after the operation. The decrease of the visual Analogue Score (VAS) and The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores in the OLIF group was greater than that in the TLIF group within 6 months after the operation, but no difference was found in the follow-up for more than 6 months. The OLIF group was better than TLIF in restoring the lumbar lordosis angle and intervertebral height. The operation time, blood loss and hospital stay of the OLIF group were less than those of the TLIF group, and there was no significant difference between the two in terms of surgical complications and fusion rate. Conclusions: Although there was no significant difference between the OLIF and TLIF groups in terms of long-term pain relief and functional improvement, the OLIF group experienced greater short-term efficacy than the TLIF group and the surgical safety of OLIF was better than that of TLIF.