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Archives of Neurosurgery

Corresponding Author

Iris Tatiana Montes González, Neurosurgeon, Fellow Minimally invasive surgery, Spine Clinic, Neurological Center, ABC Campus Santa Fe Medical Center, Mexico City. Clínica Imbanaco, Cali. Clínica Cristo Rey, Cali. Colombia. E-mail: iris.montes787@gmail.com, Phone: +52 5616072196. ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9459-5647

Document Type

Original Research - Spine

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Extraforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (ELIF) avoids vascular, neural, and genitourinary risks of anterior and lateral techniques. However, many authors consider ELIF to be contraindicated in L5-S1, especially in the case of a collapsed space. Therefore, we aim to provide a technical note for ELIF in the context of an L5-S1 collapsed space and present our experience and the postoperative clinical results of our patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data from the records of patients with ELIF L5-S1 level collapsed between March 2020 to June 2021, using for this study sex, age, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, L5-S1 height space, EVA, and ODI pre and post-surgery. This observational report follows the STROBE reporting guidelines. RESULTS: We collected information from 29 patient files with ELIF L5-S1 collapsed level; 55% were women, with an average age of 53.9 years. The mean height L5-S1 pre-surgery was 5.23mm, mean height post-op L5-S1 was 11.38 mm. The mean preoperative Oswestry disability scale score was 42.28, and the mean 1-month postoperative was 15.65. Mean VAS pre-surgery was 8.51 mm, mean VAS post-op 2.41. None of our patients presented neurological, genitourinary, or vascular complications.

DISCUSSION: The data found in this work show that the ELIF technique can statistically modify the height of the L5-S1 interbody space. Additionally, the Oswestry disability index and pain in VAS can be statistically improved. Our data support that ELIF is suitable for collapsed L5-S1 spaces with low complication rates than other approaches. CONCLUSION: Extraforaminal lumbar interbody fusion is a feasible and safe alternative for restoring the L5-S1 disc height with clinical improvement and significant pain control by the use of intradiscal working tubes and bullet-shaped cages,

Completion Checklist

MAIN MANUSCRIPT DOCX; COVER LETTER; TITLE PAGE; ABSTRACT; KEYWORDS; ABBREVIATIONS; HIGHLIGHTS; AUTHOR DISCLOSURES; STATEMENT OF ADHERENCE TO REPORTING GUIDELINES; MANUSCRIPT; BACKGROUND; OBJECTIVE; RESULTS; DISCUSSION; CONCLUSIONS; TABLE LEGENDS; FIGURE LEGENDS; REPORTING GUIDELINES CHECKLIST; AKNOWLEDGEMENTS DOCX; REPORTING GUIDELINES FLOWCHART (IF NEEDED) PPTX; TABLES PPTX; FIGURES PPTX

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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