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Optimizing Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: A Fully 3D CT O-Arm Navigated Workflow in MIS TLIF
Published on: October 17, 2025
849
Minimally invasive lumbar decompression-the surgical learning curve
Junyoung Ahn1, Aamir Iqbal1, Blaine T Manning1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St., Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Summary
Surgeons improve minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MIS LD) operative time and hospitalization length with experience. Clinical outcomes remain similar, suggesting MIS LD can be safely performed initially.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Spinal Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
Background:
- Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) learning curves are poorly understood.
- Few studies investigate surgeon learning curves for MIS lumbar decompression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the learning curve for 1- or 2-level MIS lumbar decompression (LD).
- To evaluate perioperative and postoperative outcomes based on surgical experience.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained registry of 228 MIS LD patients.
- Comparison of initial 50 MIS LD cases with subsequent 178 MIS LD cases.
- Secondary comparison of initial 50 MIS LD with 50 open LD patients.
Main Results:
- The initial MIS LD cohort had longer procedural times and hospitalizations than the experienced cohort.
- Estimated blood loss, pain scores, and complication rates were similar between initial and experienced MIS LD groups.
- Open LD patients had longer procedural times and hospitalizations than MIS LD patients, with similar reoperation rates.
Conclusions:
- Surgical experience improves perioperative parameters (operative time, hospitalization) in MIS LD.
- Clinical outcomes (pain, reoperations) are similar regardless of surgical experience.
- MIS LD can be performed safely even without extensive prior experience.
