Asian Spine J.  2021 Aug;15(4):455-463. 10.31616/asj.2020.0083.

Contraindication of Minimally Invasive Lateral Interbody Fusion for Percutaneous Reduction of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: A New Radiographic Indicator of Bony Lateral Recess Stenosis Using I Line

• Ishii K
• Isogai N
• Shiono Y
• Yoshida K
• Takahashi Y
• Takeshima K
• Nakayama M
• Funao H

• KMID: 2519235
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.31616/asj.2020.0083

Abstract

Retrospective cohort study.

This study aimed to evaluate aggravated lateral recess stenosis and clarify the indirect decompression threshold by combined lateral interbody fusion and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (LIF/PPS).

No previous reports have described an effective radiographic indicator for determining the surgical indication for LIF/PPS.

A retrospective review of 185 consecutive patients, who underwent 1- or 2-level lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). According to their symptomatic improvement, they were placed into either the “recovery” or “no-recovery” group. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) images were evaluated for the position of the superior articular processes at the slipping level, followed by a graded classification (grades 0–3) using the impingement line (I line), a new radiographic indicator. All 432 superior articular facets in 216 slipped levels were classified, and both groups’ characteristics were compared.

There were 171 patients (92.4%) in the recovery group and 14 patients in the no-recovery group (7.6%). All patients in the no-recovery group were diagnosed with symptoms associated with deteriorated bony lateral recess stenosis. All superior articular processes of the lower vertebral body in affected levels reached and exceeded the I line (I line-; grade 2 and 3) on preoperative sagittal CT images. In the recovery group, most superior articular processes did not reach the I line (I line+; grade 0 and 1; p=0.0233).

In DS cases that are classified as grade 2 or greater, the risk of aggravated bony lateral recess stenosis due to corrective surgery is high; therefore, indirect decompression by LIF/PPS is, in principle, contraindicated.

Keyword

Degenerative spondylolisthesis; Lateral interbody fusion; Percutaneous pedicle screw; Minimally invasive spine surgery; Radiographic indicator