Transpsoas Approach For Interbody Fusion Research Articles

A Posterior Oblique Approach to the Lumbar Disk Spaces, Vertebral Bodies, and Lumbar Plexus: A Cadaveric Feasibility Study.

A laboratory cadaveric study. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of a posterior oblique approach, sharing the same advantages as the transpsoas technique while minimizing the risk of lumbar plexus or psoas muscle injuries. The transpsoas approach for interbody fusion and corpectomy offers advantages over posterior and anterior approaches. However, possible risks include traumatization of the psoas muscle or lumbar plexus. All lumbar disk spaces and vertebral bodies were exposed by a posterior oblique approach from left and right on a human cadaveric specimen. The exposure obtained and a step-by-step documentation of the procedure is outlined in detail. We were able to achieve wide exposure of all lumbar disk spaces and vertebral bodies above the L5/S1 disk space. Only the psoas muscle was retracted, and the lumbar plexus nerves were easily visualized and gently retracted. Sharp dissection was only required around the tip of the transverse processes. A posterior oblique approach seems to be less invasive than the transpsoas approach. Exposure of the anterior column structures above the iliac crest is comparable. The oblique approach offers direct access to the lumbar plexus and the extraforaminal segments of the nerve roots.

Abdominal wall paresis as a complication of minimally invasive lateral transpsoas interbody fusion

The minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach for interbody fusion has been increasingly employed to treat various spinal pathological entities. Gaining access to the retroperitoneal space and traversing the abdominal wall poses a risk of injury to the major nervous structures. Nerve injury of the abdominal wall can potentially lead to paresis of the abdominal musculature and bulging of the abdominal wall. Abdominal wall nerve injury resulting from the minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach has not been previously reported. The authors describe a case series of patients presenting with paresis and bulging of the abdominal wall after undergoing a minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal approach. The authors retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent a minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach for interbody fusion and in whom development of abdominal paresis developed; the patients were treated at 4 institutions between 2006 and 2010. All data were recorded including demographics, diagnosis, operative procedure, positioning, hospital course, follow-up, and complications. The onset, as well as resolution of the abdominal paresis, was reviewed. The authors identified 10 consecutive patients in whom abdominal paresis developed after minimally invasive lateral transpsoas spine surgery out of a total of 568 patients. Twenty-nine interbody levels were fused (range 1-4 levels/patient). There were 4 men and 6 women whose mean age was 54.1 years (range 37-66 years). All patients presented with abdominal paresis 2-6 weeks postoperatively. In 8 of the 10 patients, abdominal wall paresis had resolved by the 6-month follow-up visit. Two patients only had 1 and 4 months of follow-up. No long-term sequelae were identified. Abdominal wall paresis is a rare but known potential complication of abdominal surgery. The authors report the first case series associated with the minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach.

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following minimally invasive spine surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery is increasingly used to treat various spinal pathologies with the goal of minimizing destruction of the surrounding tissues. Rhabdomyolysis (RM) is a rare but known complication of spine surgery, and acute renal failure (ARF) is in turn a potential complication of severe RM. The authors report the first known case series of RM and ARF following minimally invasive lateral spine surgery. The authors retrospectively reviewed data in all consecutive patients who underwent a minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach for interbody fusion with the subsequent development of RM and ARF at 2 institutions between 2006 and 2009. Demographic variables, patient home medications, preoperative laboratory values, and anesthetic used during the procedure were reviewed. All patient data were recorded including the operative procedure, patient positioning, postoperative hospital course, operative time, blood loss, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), creatinine, duration of hospital stay, and complications. Five of 315 consecutive patients were identified with RM and ARF after undergoing minimally invasive lateral transpsoas spine surgery. There were 4 men and 1 woman with a mean age of 66 years (range 60-71 years). The mean body mass index was 31 kg/m2 and ranged from 25 to 40 kg/m2. Nineteen interbody levels had been fused, with a range of 3-6 levels per patient. The mean operative time was 420 minutes and ranged from 315 to 600 minutes. The CPK ranged from 5000 to 56,000 U/L, with a mean of 25,861 U/L. Two of the 5 patients required temporary hemodialysis, while 3 required only aggressive fluid resuscitation. The mean duration of the hospital stay was 12 days, with a range of 3-25 days. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare but known potential complication of spine surgery. The authors describe the first case series associated with the minimally invasive lateral approach. Surgeons must be aware of the possibility of postoperative RM and ARF, particularly in morbidly obese patients and in procedures associated with prolonged operative times.