Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
05:52
Novel Mini-open Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Published on: June 6, 2025
606
Transforaminal Versus Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of
Alejandro Perez-Albela1, Mohammad Daher, Thomas Peacock
1From the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI (Perez-Albela, Daher, Singh, Sadh, Sheth, Daniels, and Basques), and the Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (Peacock).
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
|September 22, 2025
Summary
Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) offers benefits over transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for degenerative disc disease, including less blood loss and shorter recovery. However, TLIF may provide better long-term leg pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Spine surgery
- Orthopedics
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Degenerative lumbar disk disease is commonly treated with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF).
- Both TLIF and LLIF restore disk height and achieve fusion.
- Comparative advantages regarding radiographic, perioperative, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an updated meta-analysis comparing TLIF and LLIF.
- Evaluate perioperative outcomes, radiographic parameters, complication rates, and PROs.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing TLIF and LLIF.
- Searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (2000-2025).
- Used random-effects models for pooled analyses; stratified PROs by early and late follow-up.
Main Results:
- LLIF associated with shorter surgical time, lower blood loss, and reduced length of stay.
- LLIF showed greater immediate and late improvements in disk height, foraminal height, and segmental lordosis.
- TLIF achieved greater immediate canal decompression; LLIF had lower subsidence risk. LLIF showed improved late leg pain scores.
Conclusions:
- LLIF and TLIF have distinct advantages for degenerative lumbar disk disease.
- LLIF offers benefits in reduced subsidence, blood loss, surgical time, and hospital stay.
- While most PROs were similar, TLIF demonstrated superior late leg pain relief.
