Percutaneous posterior lumbar interbody fusion
In the Percutaneous posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PPLIF) group, as compared with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLF) group, mean operating time was shorter, blood loss was negligible, and mean hospital time was halved. By the last follow-up visit (greater than or equal to 2 years), pain and disability in PLF group had diminished by 31.9% and 20.1%, respectively. The corresponding figures in PPLIF group were 55.4% and 42.7%, respectively.
In the context of postdiscectomy low back pain, PPLIF has proven, thus far, to be a safe procedure with improved clinical results 1).
1)
Gepstein R, Shabat S, Reichel M, Pikarsky I, Folman Y. Treatment of
postdiscectomy low back pain by percutaneous posterior lumbar interbody fusion
versus open posterior lumbar fusion with pedicle screws. Spine J. 2008
Sep-Oct;8(5):741-6. Epub 2007 Nov 5. PubMed PMID: 17981094.