Minimally Invasive Far Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Prospective Cohort Study:

Study Design:Prospective cohort study.Objectives:To assess rate and degree of interbody bone fusion and evolution in Oswestry Disability index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) of pain after minimally invasive far lateral lumbar interbody fusion.Methods:Twenty-three patients with single-level lumbar instability or degenerative disc were treated by this method and prospectively included. VAS of pain and ODI were evaluated preoperatively and at last follow-up. Computed tomography scan was performed 6 months after surgery to assess interbody fusion.Results:Between preoperative and 2 years postoperative follow-up, mean VAS decreased by 2.4 points (P < .001); mean ODI improved by 21.8% (P < .001). Computed tomography scan showed fusion in all patients but one. No severe complications were observed.Conclusions:Minimally invasive far lateral lumbar interbody fusion resulted in satisfactory clinical and radiological results.