Visualization in the Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: From Tubular to Endoscopic...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Fusion Techniques

Background:

• Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a prevalent surgical procedure for spinal arthrodesis.
• Recent decades have seen a shift towards minimally invasive spine surgery to decrease tissue trauma and patient morbidity.
• Minimally invasive approaches aim to reduce iatrogenic injury and perioperative complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review visualization techniques used in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF).
• To compare modalities such as tubular retractors and spinal endoscopy.
• To summarize a hybrid system combining the benefits of both approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on visualization techniques in MITLIF.
• Analysis of methods employing tubular retractors for visualization.
• Evaluation of spinal endoscopy as a visualization tool.
• Summary of a hybrid system integrating tubular retractors and endoscopy.

Main Results:

• Both tubular retractors and spinal endoscopy offer distinct advantages for visualization during MITLIF.
• A hybrid system can potentially leverage the strengths of both visualization modalities.
• Selection of appropriate MITLIF modalities is crucial and patient-dependent.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF) techniques enhance surgical outcomes by minimizing tissue trauma.
• Effective visualization, whether through tubular retractors, endoscopy, or a hybrid approach, is key to successful MITLIF.
• Personalized selection of MITLIF methods based on patient factors is essential for optimizing results.