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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Multilevel Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease with Instability
Published on: July 25, 2025
The learning curve of lateral access lumbar interbody fusion in an Asian population: a prospective study
Chong Leslie Lich Ng1, Boon Chuan Pang, Paul Julius A Medina
1Spine Surgery, Deptartment of Orthopedics, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore, honglingng@aol.com.
Purpose:
Lateral access lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is a minimally invasive technique that has an increasing popularity. It offers unique advantages and circumvents risk of certain serious complications encountered in other conventional spinal approaches. This study provides a statistical analysis defining the lateral access learning curve in the Asian population.
Methods:
This prospective study included 32 consecutive patients who underwent LLIF from April 2012 to August 2014. The surgeries were performed by two senior spine surgeons and follow-up was conducted at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 months and 1 year post-operation.
Results:
The breakpoint in operating time occurred at the 22nd level operated, from a mean of 71 min in the early phase group to a mean of 42 min in the steady state group. LLIF at L4/5 level is technically more demanding but technically feasible as competency is achieved.
Conclusions:
During the learning process, there was no compromise of perioperative or clinical outcomes. It should be feasibly incorporated into a spine surgeon's repertoire of procedures for the lumbar spine.
