Trajectory of the main sensory and motor branches of the lumbar plexus outside the psoas muscle related to the lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach

Allograft cellular bone matrix in extreme lateral interbody fusion: preliminary radiographic and clinical outcomes

Introduction. Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is a minimally disruptive alternative for anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Recently, synthetic and allograft materials have been increasingly used to eliminate donor-site pain and complications secondary to autogenous bone graft harvesting. The clinical use of allograft cellular bone graft has potential advantages over autograft by eliminating the need to harvest autograft while mimicking autograft's biologic function. The objective of this study was to examine 12-month radiographic and clinical outcomes in patients who underwent XLIF with Osteocel Plus, one such allograft cellular bone matrix. Methods. Forty (40) patients were treated at 61 levels with XLIF and Osteocel Plus and included in the analysis. Results. No complications were observed. From preoperative to 12-month postoperative followup, ODI improved 41%, LBP improved 55%, leg pain improved 43.3%, and QOL (SF-36) improved 56%. At 12 months, 92% reported being “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with their outcome and 86% being either “very” or “somewhat likely” to choose to undergo the procedure again. Complete fusion was observed in 90.2% (55/61) of XLIF levels. Conclusions. Complete interbody fusion with Osteocel Plus was shown in 90.2% of XLIF levels, with the remaining 9.8% being partially consolidated and progressing towards fusion at 12 months.

Anterior longitudinal ligament release using the minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach: a cadaveric feasibility study and report of 4 clinical cases

Object

Traditional procedures for correction of sagittal imbalance via shortening of the posterior column include the Smith-Petersen osteotomy, pedicle subtraction osteotomy, and vertebral column resection. These procedures require wide exposure of the spinal column posteriorly, and may be associated with significant morbidity. Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) release using the minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal approach with a resultant net lengthening of the anterior column has been performed as an alternative to increase lordosis. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and early clinical experience of ALL release through a minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach, as well as to describe its surgical anatomy in the lumbar spine.

Methods

Forty-eight lumbar levels were dissected in 12 fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens to study the anatomy of the ALL as well as its surrounding structures, and to determine the feasibility of the technique. The lumbar disc spaces and ALL were accessed via the lateral transpsoas approach and confirmed with fluoroscopy in each specimen. As an adjunct, 4 clinical cases of ALL release through the minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach were reviewed. Operative technique, results, complications, and early outcomes were assessed.

Results

In the cadaveric study, sectioning of the ALL proved to be feasible from the minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach. The structures at most immediate risk during this procedure were the aorta, inferior vena cava, iliac vessels, and sympathetic plexus. The mean increase in segmental lumbar lordosis per level of ALL release was 10.2°, while global lumbar lordosis improved by 25°. Each level of ALL release took 56 minutes and produced 40 ml of blood loss on average. Visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores improved by 9 and 35 points, respectively. There were no cases of hardware failure, and as of yet no complications to report.

Conclusions

This initial experience suggests that ALL release through the minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach may be feasible, allows for improvement of lumbar lordosis without the need of an open laparotomy/thoracotomy, and minimizes the tissue disruption and morbidity associated with posterior osteotomies.

Clinical outcome and fusion rates after the first 30 extreme lateral interbody fusions

Introduction. The lateral transpsoas approach for lumbar interbody fusion (XLIF) is gaining popularity. Studies examining a surgeon's early experience are rare. We aim to report treatment, complication, clinical, and radiographic outcomes in an early series of patients. Methods. Prospective data from the first thirty patients treated with XLIF by a single surgeon was reviewed. Outcome measures included pain, disability, and quality of life assessment. Radiographic assessment of fusion was performed by computed tomography. Results. Average follow-up was 11.5 months, operative time was 60 minutes per level and blood loss was 50 mL. Complications were observed: clinical subsidence, cage breakage upon insertion, new postoperative motor deficit and bowel injury. Approach side-effects were radiographic subsidence and anterior thigh sensory changes. Two patients required reoperation; microforaminotomy and pedicle screw fixation respectively. VAS back and leg pain decreased 63% and 56%, respectively. ODI improved 41.2% with 51.3% and 8.1% improvements in PCS and MCS. Complete fusion (last follow-up) was observed in 85%. Conclusion. The XLIF approach provides superior treatment, clinical outcomes and fusion rates compared to conventional surgical approaches with lowered complication rates. Mentor supervision for early cases and strict adherence to the surgical technique including neuromonitoring is essential.

Motor nerve injuries following the minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach

OBJECT

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of motor nerve injuries during the minimally invasive lateral interbody fusion procedure at a single academic medical center.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 118 patients who had undergone lateral interbody fusion was performed. Both inpatient and outpatient records were examined to identify any new postoperative motor weakness in the lower extremities and abdominal wall musculature that was attributable to the operative procedure.

RESULTS

In the period from 2007 to 2011 the lateral interbody fusion procedure was attempted on 201 lumbar intervertebral disc levels. No femoral nerve injuries occurred at any disc level other than the L4-5 disc space. Among procedures involving the L4-5 level there were 2 femoral nerve injuries, corresponding to a 4.8% injury risk at this level as compared with a 0% injury risk at other lumbar spine levels. Five patients (4.2%) had postoperative abdominal flank bulge attributable to injury to the abdominal wall motor innervation.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall incidence of femoral nerve injury after the lateral transpsoas approach was 1.7%; however, the level-specific incidence was 4.8% for procedures performed at the L4-5 disc space. Approximately 4% of patients had postoperative abdominal flank bulge. Surgeons will be able to minimize these motor nerve injuries through judicious use of the procedure at the L4-5 level and careful attention to the T-11 and T-12 motor nerves during exposure and closure of the abdominal wall.

Movement of abdominal structures on magnetic resonance imaging during positioning changes related to lateral lumbar spine surgery: a morphometric study

Object

The minimally invasive lateral interbody fusion of the lumbar spine through a retroperitoneal transpsoas approach has become increasingly used. Although preoperative imaging is performed supine, the procedure is performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. The authors measured the changes in location of the psoas muscle, aorta, inferior vena cava (IVC), iliac vessels, and kidneys with regard to the fixed lumbar spine when moving from a supine to a lateral decubitus position.

Methods

Unenhanced lumbar MRI scans were performed using a 3T magnet in 10 skeletally mature volunteers in the supine, left lateral decubitus (LLD), and right lateral decubitus (RLD) positions. Positional changes in the aorta, IVC, iliac vessels, and kidneys were then analyzed at all lumbar levels when moving from supine to RLD and supine to LLD. Values are presented as group means.

Results

When the position was changed from supine to RLD, both the aorta and the IVC moved up to 6 mm to the right, with increased movement caudally at L3–4. The aorta was displaced 2 mm anteriorly at L1–2, and the IVC moved 3 mm anteriorly at L1–2 and L2–3 and 1 mm posteriorly at L3–4. The left kidney moved 22 mm anteriorly and 15 mm caudally, while the right kidney moved 9 mm rostrally.

When the position was changed from supine to LLD, the aorta moved 1.5 mm to the left at all levels, with very minimal anterior/posterior displacement. The IVC moved up to 10 mm to the left and 12 mm anteriorly, with increased movement rostrally at L1–2. The left kidney moved 3 mm anteriorly and 1 mm rostrally, while the right kidney moved 20 mm anteriorly and 5 mm caudally.

The bifurcation of the aorta was an average of 18 mm above the L4–5 disc space, while the convergence of the iliac veins to form the IVC was at the level of the disc space. The iliopsoas did not move in any quantifiable direction when the position was changed from supine to lateral; its shape, however, may change to become more flat or rounded. When the position was changed from supine to RLD, the right iliac vein moved posteriorly an average of 1.5 mm behind the anterior vertebral body (VB) line (a horizontal line drawn on an axial image at the anterior VB), while the other vessels stayed predominantly anterior to the disc space. When the position was changed from supine to LLD, the right iliac vein moved to a position 1.4 mm anterior to the anterior VB line. There was negligible movement of the other vessels in this position.

Conclusions

The authors showed that the aorta, IVC, and kidneys moved a significant distance away from the surgical corridor with changes in position. At the L4–5 level, a left-sided approach may be riskier because the right common iliac vein trends posteriorly and into the surgical corridor, whereas in a right-sided approach it trends anteriorly.

Minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion and transpsoas approach–related morbidity

Object

Recently, the minimally invasive, lateral retroperitoneal, transpsoas approach to the thoracolumbar spinal column has been described by various authors. This is known as the minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the approach-related morbidity associated with the minimally invasive transpsoas approach to the lumbar spine. To date, there have been only a couple of reports regarding the morbidity of the transpsoas muscle approach.

Methods

A nonrandomized, prospective study utilizing a self-reported patient questionnaire was conducted between January 2006 and June 2008 at Northwestern University. Data were collected in 53 patients with a follow-up period ranging from 6 months to 3.5 years. Only 2 patients were lost to follow-up.

Results

Thirty-six percent (19 of 53) of patients reported subjective hip flexor weakness, 25% (13 of 53) anterior thigh numbness, and 23% (12 of 53) anterior thigh pain. However, 84% of the 19 patients reported complete resolution of their subjective hip flexor weakness by 6 months, and most experienced improved strength by 8 weeks. Of those reporting anterior thigh numbness and pain, 69% and 75% improved to their baseline function by the 6-month follow-up evaluations, respectively. All patients with self-reported subjective hip flexor weakness underwent examinations during subsequent clinic visits after surgery; however, these examinations did not confirm a motor deficit less than Grade 5. Subset analysis showed that the L3–4 and L4–5 levels were most often affected.

Conclusions

The minimally invasive, transpsoas muscle approach to the lumbar spine has a number of advantages. The data show that a percentage of the patients undergoing the transpsoas approach will have temporary sensory and motor symptoms related to this approach. The majority of the symptoms are thought to be related to psoas muscle inflammation and/or stretch injury to the genitofemoral nerve due to the surgical corridor traversed during the operation. No major injuries to the lumbar plexus were encountered. It is important to educate patients prior to surgery of the possibility of these largely transient symptoms.

Abdominal wall paresis as a complication of minimally invasive lateral transpsoas interbody fusion

Object

The minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach for interbody fusion has been increasingly employed to treat various spinal pathological entities. Gaining access to the retroperitoneal space and traversing the abdominal wall poses a risk of injury to the major nervous structures. Nerve injury of the abdominal wall can potentially lead to paresis of the abdominal musculature and bulging of the abdominal wall. Abdominal wall nerve injury resulting from the minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas approach has not been previously reported. The authors describe a case series of patients presenting with paresis and bulging of the abdominal wall after undergoing a minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal approach.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent a minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach for interbody fusion and in whom development of abdominal paresis developed; the patients were treated at 4 institutions between 2006 and 2010. All data were recorded including demographics, diagnosis, operative procedure, positioning, hospital course, follow-up, and complications. The onset, as well as resolution of the abdominal paresis, was reviewed.

Results

The authors identified 10 consecutive patients in whom abdominal paresis developed after minimally invasive lateral transpsoas spine surgery out of a total of 568 patients. Twenty-nine interbody levels were fused (range 1–4 levels/patient). There were 4 men and 6 women whose mean age was 54.1 years (range 37–66 years). All patients presented with abdominal paresis 2–6 weeks postoperatively. In 8 of the 10 patients, abdominal wall paresis had resolved by the 6-month follow-up visit. Two patients only had 1 and 4 months of follow-up. No long-term sequelae were identified.

Conclusions

Abdominal wall paresis is a rare but known potential complication of abdominal surgery. The authors report the first case series associated with the minimally invasive lateral transpsoas approach.