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Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Meta-analysis of the Fusion Rates. What is the Optimal
Avelino Parajón1, Marjan Alimi1, Rodrigo Navarro-Ramirez1
1Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Background:
Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) is an increasingly popular procedure with several potential advantages over traditional open TLIF.
Objective:
The current study aimed to compare fusion rates of different graft materials used in MIS-TLIF, via meta-analysis of the published literature.
Methods:
A Medline search was performed and a database was created including patient's type of graft, clinical outcome, fusion rate, fusion assessment modality, and duration of follow-up. Meta-analysis of the fusion rate was performed using StatsDirect software (StatsDirect Ltd, Cheshire, United Kingdom).
Results:
A total of 1533 patients from 40 series were included. Fusion rates were high, ranging from 91.8% to 99%. The imaging modalities used to assess fusion were computed tomography scans (30%) and X-rays (70%). Comparison of all recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP) series with all non-rhBMP series showed fusion rates of 96.6% and 92.5%, respectively. The lowest fusion rate was seen with isolated use of autologous local bone (91.8%). The highest fusion rate was observed with combination of autologous local bone with bone extender and rhBMP (99.1%). The highest fusion rate without the use of BMP was seen with autologous local bone + bone extender (93.1%). The reported complication rate ranged from 0% to 35.71%. Clinical improvement was observed in all studies.
Conclusion:
Fusion rates are generally high with MIS-TLIF regardless of the graft material used. Given the potential complications of iliac bone harvesting and rhBMP, use of other bone graft options for MIS-TLIF is reasonable. The highest fusion rate without the use of rhBMP was seen with autologous local bone plus bone extender (93.1%).