Functional Outcome of Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery in Spondylolisthesis: An Observational Study

TL;DR

This study examines the effectiveness of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery in treating spondylolisthesis, finding improved pain and function in most patients.

Contribution

The study provides functional outcome data specific to transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for spondylolisthesis in a local patient cohort.

Findings

Patients showed a mean VAS pain score of 2.09 post-surgery, indicating mild pain.

Mean Oswestry Disability Index score was 9.57, suggesting improved functional outcomes.

Most patients (92.65%) had lower-grade spondylolisthesis and benefited from the surgery.

Abstract

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion is indicated for stabilizing and fusing spondylolisthesis. There is no uniformity in functional outcomes reported across different studies. We aimed to find the functional outcomes of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in our cases.

This retrospective observational study included post-operative spondylolisthesis cases. Visual Analogue Scale and the validated Nepali Oswestry Disability Index (version 2.1a) were used to grade pain and functional outcomes. Data were entered in MS Excel 2016 and analysed using JASP version 0.19.3. Point estimates at 95% Confidence Interval were calculated, along with frequencies and percentages for binary data, and mean with standard deviation or median with interquartile range for continuous data.

Among the total 68 patients, the median post-operative duration of follow-up was 27 months (IQR 39), ranging from 6 to 80 months. Sixty-three (92.65%) cases belonged to lower grade (grade I and II) spondylolisthesis. Predominant radiculopathy accounted for 56 (82.35%) cases. A total 61 (89.71%) cases underwent single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, whereas remaining 7 (10.29%) had two-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery. The VAS score mean was 2.09+1.05 (95% CI: 1.83 - 2.34), where 63 (92.65%) had mild pain and 5 (7.35%) cases had moderate symptoms at the final follow-up. The mean Oswestry Disability Index score was 9.57+3.81(95% CI: 8.65 - 10.49).

Patients reported lower pain scores and better functional outcomes post-operative in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery.

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