Percutaneous endoscopic posterior lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases: a technical note and summary of the initial clinical outcomes

Background Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion was a new technique that leads to improved visualization, improved safety and less trauma than does the traditional procedure. The purpose of this study was to introduce the technique of percutaneous endoscopic posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PE-PLIF) and determine its efficacy. Methods 35 patients with an average age of 52.3 +/- 13.7 years were treated with single-segment PE-PLIF. The perioperative parameters and the radiographic parameters were measured. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for low back pain, VAS score for leg pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI) score were used to assess the levels of pain and function. Results The mean estimated volume of blood loss was 68.6 +/- 32.3 ml, operative time was 179.6 +/- 31.0 minutes. PE-PLIF significantly reduced the VAS score for low back pain, VAS score for leg pain and ODI score, and improved the posterior disc height, lumbar lordosis angle and segmental lordosis angle (p < 0.05). The rate of satisfaction was 94.3%. One patient suffered a dural tear. There was one case of contralateral radiculopathy that was relieved after conservative treatment. Conclusions This research suggests that PE-PLIF is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment for degenerative lumbar diseases requiring interbody fusion.