Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
Three-dimensional Navigation-guided, Prone, Single-position, Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technique
Published on: July 15, 2021
Mini-open lateral retroperitoneal lumbar spine approach using psoas muscle retraction technique. Technical report and
Kamran Aghayev1, Frank D Vrionis
1Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA, kamranag@gmail.com.
Purpose:
The main aim of this paper was to report reproducible method of lumbar spine access via a lateral retroperitoneal route.
Methods:
The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of the technical aspects and clinical outcomes of six patients who underwent lateral multilevel retroperitoneal interbody fusion with psoas muscle retraction technique. The main goal was to develop a simple and reproducible technique to avoid injury to the lumbar plexus.
Results:
Six patients were operated at 15 levels using psoas muscle retraction technique. All patients reported improvement in back pain and radiculopathy after the surgery. The only procedure-related transient complication was weakness and pain on hip flexion that resolved by the first follow-up visit.
Conclusions:
Psoas retraction technique is a reliable technique for lateral access to the lumbar spine and may avoid some of the complications related to traditional minimally invasive transpsoas approach.
