Minimally Invasive Far Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Prospective Cohort Study

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To assess rate and degree of interbody bone fusion and evolution in Oswestry Disability index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) of pain after minimally invasive far lateral lumbar interbody fusion. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with single-level lumbar instability or degenerative disc were treated by this method and prospectively included. VAS of pain and ODI were evaluated preoperatively and at last follow-up. Computed tomography scan was performed 6 months after surgery to assess interbody fusion. RESULTS: Between preoperative and 2 years postoperative follow-up, mean VAS decreased by 2.4 points (P < .001); mean ODI improved by 21.8% (P < .001). Computed tomography scan showed fusion in all patients but one. No severe complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive far lateral lumbar interbody fusion resulted in satisfactory clinical and radiological results.