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Uniportal Full Endoscopic Posterolateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Published on: June 6, 2025
Correction of lumbar coronal plane deformity using unilateral cage placement
Robert F Heary1, Reza J Karimi
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA. heary@umdnj.edu
Neurosurgical Focus
|March 3, 2010
Summary
This study presents a surgical technique for degenerative lumbar scoliosis using a unilateral interbody cage and posterior fusion. The method effectively corrected spinal curves and relieved back pain in four patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Degenerative lumbar scoliosis often causes debilitating axial low-back pain and radicular symptoms.
- Unilateral nerve root compression on the concave side is a common complication.
- Current surgical options may involve extensive procedures with significant morbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel surgical technique for correcting symptomatic degenerative lumbar scoliosis.
- To evaluate the efficacy of a unilateral interbody cage combined with posterior instrumentation and fusion.
- To assess clinical outcomes, curve correction, and fusion rates in a small patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A surgical technique involving a single, unilateral interbody cage placed on the concave side.
- Dorsal decompression to address nerve root compression.
- Instrumented posterolateral fusion to stabilize the spine.
- The procedure was performed on four patients with specific clinical presentations.
Main Results:
- Excellent correction of the coronal deformity was achieved.
- Successful fusion was confirmed in all patients.
- Patients experienced significant relief from intractable axial low-back pain and radicular symptoms.
- Positive clinical outcomes were observed post-operatively.
Conclusions:
- This surgical technique offers a viable option for managing symptomatic degenerative lumbar scoliosis.
- The combination of a unilateral interbody cage and posterior fusion provides effective curve correction and spinal stability.
- The described method demonstrates promising results for pain relief and functional improvement.
