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Updated: May 4, 2026
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Three-dimensional Navigation-guided, Prone, Single-position, Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technique
Published on: July 15, 2021
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[Lateral extracavitary approach to spine]
Drazen Ivetić1, Milan Spaić2, Branislav Antić2
1Clinic for Neurosurgery, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia. iveticd@yahoo.com
Srpski Arhiv Za Celokupno Lekarstvo
|December 25, 2013
Summary
The lateral extracavitary approach in the three-quarter prone position safely decompresses the lumbar spine ventrally. This technique allows for both anterior and posterior spinal stabilization through a single incision, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Surgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Posterior approaches to the spine can yield unsatisfactory results for ventral compressive lesions.
- Ventral and lateral extracavitary approaches have been developed to address these limitations.
Observation:
- A patient with a lumbar (L3) vertebral body tumor (chordoma) presented with cauda equina compression and paraspinal propagation.
- The lateral extracavitary approach was utilized with the patient in a three-quarter prone position.
Findings:
- Corpectomy and anterior stabilization were performed, followed by posterior transpedicular stabilization via the same approach.
- Complete tumor removal was achieved, leading to excellent neurological improvement in the patient.
Implications:
- This approach offers safe ventral decompression of the spinal cord.
- It facilitates anterior and posterior instrumental stabilization within a single operative session and position.
- The three-quarter prone position provides optimal visualization of the dural sac.
