Introduction:

Via the application of the interbody fusion, the height of the disc is reconstructed, sagittal contour is preserved and the long term stabilization of the operated segment is ensured. The support to the anterior coloumn is helpful in increasing stability, reducing the stress on the pedicul screws, and incresing the fusion rates. The level of L1-2 and above are considered to be in relation with the conus and cord. The application of the transforaminal interbody fusion is done with the fusion material via a far lateral posterior approach.

Material-Method:

This study was a retrospective case series and was approved by Department of Neurosurgery, Bakırkoy Research and Training Hospital for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The eligible cases were the patients who underwent posterior decompression on the first one or two levels on the lombar vertebrae using TLIF with wide decompression for 1 or 2 level spinal stenosis with or without spondylolisthesis, between 2012- 2014.

Results:

The preoperative and postoperative VAS score of the patients were calculated to be 6.53(5-8) and 3.2(2-5) respectively. Also, the preoperative and postoperative ODI value of the patients were calculated to be 68%(55-80%) and 26%(10-40%) respectively.

Discussion:

With the right technique, neurologic damage risk of the posterior TLIF application on the conus level is very low. Also because there will be no need for an anterior approach, there will be no second incission or a second surgery which lowers the morbidity and mortality of the added second abdominal incission.

Keywords: Transforaminal interbody fusion, conus, spinal stenosis, spinal listesis