Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025
Uniportal Full Endoscopic Posterolateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Published on: June 6, 2025
PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC LUMBAR INTERBODY FUSION: RESULTS OVER 47 MONTHS OF FOLLOW-UP
Anibal Correia Silva1,2, Tabata DE Alcantara1, Monica Paschoal Nogueira2,3
1. Universidade Potiguar, Medical School, Department of Orthopedics, Nattal, RN, Brazil.
Introduction:
This study aims to investigate the clinical-functional results of a new surgical technique, Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PELIF), in patients with a clinical diagnosis of low back or sciatic pain and segmental instability who were submitted to surgery using this technique assisted by the attending physician.
Materials And Methods:
Patients completed a consent form and were clinically and radiographically re-assessed by independent evaluators using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the SF-36 Quality of Life Score in the pre- and postoperative periods. Their medical records were also reviewed for surgical time, length of hospital stay, need for blood transfusion, return to work, and radiographic fusion evaluation.
Results:
In the group of 19 patients with 33 levels operated, VAS and ODI decreased from 10.0 and 64% to 2.0 and 28%, respectively. The SF-36 showed significantly higher scores in 5 of its 7 domains at the end of the follow-up as compared to the preoperative period scores. Only 1 case of pseudoarthrosis was diagnosed radiographically.
Conclusions:
Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PELIF) has been shown to be a safe and efficient technique for the treatment of patients with segmental instability associated with low back or sciatic pain. Level of Evidence VI; Therapeutic Study; Case Series.
