Can Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Create Lordosis from a Posterior Approach?

Abstract

The transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a well-established 3-column fusion technique that can be used to manage lumbar stenosis, instability, and deformity. Having been in use for more than 20 years, it has evolved into many different renditions. This includes protocols using minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches. To avoid the development of flatback syndrome, it is important that a TLIF procedural technique is capable of reproducibly restoring lordosis. This article describes one of many MIS TLIF protocols and presents some of its previously published outcomes.

Keywords: Lordosis; Minimally invasive surgery; Spine surgery; Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.