The Clinical Outcome of Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Laminectomy for Single-Level Lumbar Canal Stenosis with Grade 1 and 2 Spondylolisthesis

Ashok Sharma; Tarachand Suthar; Mudit Mathur; Vishnu Mittal; Shiv Bhagwan Sharma; Gaurav Mehta

doi:10.18502/jost.v9i4.13933

Ashok Sharma Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Ananta Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Siyol, Rajsamand, Rajasthan, India
Tarachand Suthar Senior Resident, Department of Orthopedics, Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Mudit Mathur Senior Resident, Department of Orthopedics, Sawai Mansingh Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Vishnu Mittal Resident, Department of Orthopedics, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
Shiv Bhagwan Sharma Senior Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Principal and Controller, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
Gaurav Mehta Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Govt. Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jost.v9i4.13933

Keywords: Treatment Outcome; Spondylolisthesis; Laminectomy; Spinal Stenosis; Surgical Decompression

Abstract

Background: Lower back pain is a common cause of disability that affects mobility and quality of life (QOL) in both adult and elderly patients. Initial management of lower back pain includes anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, physiotherapy, and epidural steroid infiltration. Despite multiple attempts of conservative management, if a patient develops refractory radicular pain with or without neurologic deficit and claudication, surgery is indicated. The two main approaches to surgical intervention include decompression (laminectomy only) and decompression with fusion [transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)].

Methods: The study was done between May 2019 and November 2022. In this randomized study, we compared the clinical outcome of TLIF and laminectomy for single-level lumbar canal stenosis with grade 1 and 2 spondylolisthesis. Forty patients with single-level lumbar canal stenosis with grade 1 and 2 spondylolisthesis were randomly divided into two equal groups. Patients in both groups were followed up for 2 years.

Results: In this study, we also noted estimated amount of blood loss, procedure time, time taken for ambulation, length of hospitalization, and demography. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores improved significantly postoperatively. The modified MacNab criteria suggest the outcomes rated as excellent/good rate of 90% in TLIF and 85% in laminectomy.

Conclusion: We evaluated that TLIF procedures were associated with slightly more significant improvement in clinical outcomes in all of the scoring systems that were applied; TLIF provides early ambulation but a higher cost of treatment and longer hospital stay compared to laminectomy. Laminectomy procedures are associated with lesser economic burden, hospital stay, and blood loss, as well as shorter surgical duration compared to TLIF.