FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF TRANSFORAMINAL LUMBAR INTER BODY FUSION: AN EXPERIENCE AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Outcome of Transforaminal Lumbar Inter Body Fusion

Abstract

Objective: To assess functional outcome of transforaminal lumbar inter body fusion (TLIF) with specific reference to improvement in pain by visual analogue score (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI).
Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Spine Surgery of a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi from May 2004 to May 2013.
Material and Methods: Thirty nine patients who underwent TLIF and completed one year of follow up in our department during the study period were included in the study. Cases were evaluated clinically and radiologically preoperatively and assessed for pain with VAS and general well being with ODI. After TLIF they were reassessed at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year for improvement in VAS and ODI. Patient satisfaction and work status after surgery was also recorded at 1 year of follow up.
Results: Out of 39 cases 19(48.7%) were operated for degenerated disc disease (DDD), 11(28.2%) for spinal stenosis and 7(17.9%) for spondylolisthesis and 2(5.2%) for trauma. A total of 28(71.79%) were males and 11(28.21%) were females. Common levels operated were 12 (30.8%) at L4-5, 11 (28.2%) at L5-S1, and 12(30.8%) at L4,5-S1, 2(5.1%) at L2-4 and 1(2.6%) each at L3-4 and L3-5. At 1 year of follow up median VAS score improved significantly from 7 to 2 and median ODI improved significantly from 76 to 34. Regarding patient satisfaction 26 (66.7%) patients were satisfied, 9 (23.1%) were partially satisfied and 4 (10.2%) were not satisfied with the surgical outcome.
Conclusion: TLIF is a safe and effective procedure for reducing chronic low back pain as a result of DDD, instability and spondylolisthesis.