ABSTRACT
Lumbar arthrodesis is a commonly performed surgical procedure for the treatment of spondylosis, trauma, infection, neoplasm, and spinal instability. Minimal-access surgery has indeed become the standard of care for many surgical procedures. Today, open knee arthrotomy or cholecystectomy are rarely performed and have been surpassed by their minimally invasive counterparts. In a number of situations, the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) provides an advantage over its open counterpart, especially in obese patients where the minimally invasive TLIF can be achieved via a small incision using a long tubular retractor. The annulus is incised with a long-handle blade directing the knife blade away from the nerve root and dura. A pituitary rongeur is used to initiate the discectomy. Subsequently, a series of curettes and disc shavers are used to loosen and remove the remainder of the disc from the endplates. Although offering certain advantages, minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery has several limitations and potential complications.
