Immediate postoperative and long-term results of a minimally invasive approach for the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: Analizar los resultados de una nueva técnica quirúrgica mínimamente invasiva (MIS, por el inglés "minimally invasive surgery") por vía posterior aislada para la corrección quirúrgica de la escoliosis idiopática del adolescente (EIA). MÉTODOS: Se comparan dos grupos de pacientes con EIA tipo 1A de Lenke, similares en cuanto a edad, género, ángulo de Cobb, ápex de la curva, rotación vertebral, cifosis torácica, niveles de fusión, tipo de instrumentación y seguimiento. El Grupo 1 fue tratado con la técnica mínimamente invasiva que describiremos y el Grupo 2, de forma convencional. Se analizaron el tiempo quirúrgico, la pérdida sanguínea intraoperatoria, los requerimientos analgésicos en el postoperatorio inmediato, la estancia hospitalaria, la tasa de mal posición de los tornillos, la pérdida de corrección, la tasa de pseudoartrosis y la movilización de implantes. RESULTADOS: En el Grupo 1 (MIS) la cirugía disminuyó significativamente el sangrado y presentó menor número de casos de tornillos mal posicionados en la concavidad que el grupo tratado de forma convencional; sin embargo la cirugía tuvo mayor duración. Ambos grupos tuvieron requerimientos analgésicos similares y la estancia hospitalaria no presentó diferencias. A largo plazo en ninguno de los dos grupos se encontraron casos de no-unión, pérdidas de corrección, ni movilización de los implantes. CONCLUSIONES: La técnica MIS demostró prolongación del tiempo quirúrgico y menores pérdidas hemáticas, sin disminuir los requerimientos analgésicos ni la estancia hospitalaria. La corrección inicial de la escoliosis por la convexidad disminuyó la incidencia de tornillos mal posicionados en la concavidad, no dio lugar a pérdidas de corrección, movilización de implantes y no-unión.

Escoliosis; Adolescente; Columna vertebral; Tornillos óseos; Procedimientos quirúrgicos mínimamente invasivos

ORIGINAL ARTICLE ARTIGO ORIGINAL ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL

Immediate postoperative and long-term results of a minimally invasive approach for the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Resultados pós-operatórios imediatos e a longo prazo de abordagem mini-invasiva para correção de escoliose idiopática do adolescente

Helena Gómez^I; Jesús Burgos^I; Eduardo Hevia^II; José Ignacio Maruenda^III; Carlos Barrios^IV; Ignacio Sanpera^V

^IOrthopedic Surgery and Traumatology. Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain

^IIHospital Central Fraternidad-Muprespa, Madrid, Spain

^IIITraumatology and Orthopedics Service, Hospital Clínico de Valencia, Spain

^IVOrthopedic Surgery, Universidad Católica de Valencia, Spain

^VHead of the Pediatric Orthopedic and Traumatology Service. Hospital Universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Correspondence

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results obtained with a new surgical technique for minimally invasive (MIS) isolated posterior approach to the surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODS: We compared two similar groups of patients with AIS of Lenke type 1A. The groups were similar in age, sex, Cobb angle, apex of the curve, vertebral rotation, thoracic kyphosis, fusion levels, type of instrumentation and follow-up. Group 1 was treated with a mini-invasive technique and Group 2 by the conventional method. We analyzed surgery time, intraoperative blood loss, analgesic requirements in the period immediately after surgery, hospitalization times, rate of screw malposition, loss of correction, rate of pseudoarthrosis, and implant mobilization.

RESULTS: In Group 1 (MIS) the surgery significantly decreased bleeding and there was a lower incidence of malpositioned screws in the recess than in the conventionally-treated group, however the surgery lasted longer. Both groups had similar analgesic requirements, and hospitalization times did not differ significantly. In the long-term, neither group showed any cases of non-union, correction losses, or mobilization of the implants.

CONCLUSIONS: The MIS technique demonstrated longer surgery time and less blood loss, but did not reduce the analgesic requirements or hospitalization times. Initial correction of scoliosis by convexity decreased the incidence of malpositioned screws in the concavity. There was no losses resulting in correction, mobilization of the implants, or non-union.

Keywords: Scoliosis/surgery; Adolescent; Spine; Bone screws; Surgical procedures, minimally invasive surgery.

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados de uma nova técnica cirúrgica minimamente invasiva (MIS, de minimally invasive surgery) em abordagem posterior isolada para a correção cirúrgica de escoliose idiopática do adolescente (EIA).

MÉTODOS: Foram comparados dois grupos de pacientes com EIA Lenke tipo 1A, semelhantes quanto a idade, sexo, ângulo de Cobb, ápice da curva, rotação vertebral, cifose torácica, níveis de fusão, tipo de instrumentação e acompanhamento. Os pacientes do Grupo 1 foram tratados com a técnica minimamente invasiva que será descrita e o Grupo 2, da maneira convencional. Foi analisado tempo de cirurgia, sangramento intraoperatório, necessidade de analgésicos no pós-operatório imediato, estadia hospitalar, taxa de mau posicionamento do parafuso, perda da correção, taxa de pseudoartrose e mobilidade dos implantes.

RESULTADOS: No Grupo 1 (MIS),a cirurgia diminuiu significativamente o sangramento e houve menor incidência de parafusos mau posicionados no orifício do que no grupo de tratamento convencional, porém o tempo de cirurgia foi maior. Ambos os grupos tiveram necessidade de analgésicos semelhante e o tempo de internação não apresentou diferenças. A longo prazo, em nenhum dos dois grupos houve casos de não-união, perdas de correção nem mobilidade dos implantes.

CONCLUSÕES: A técnica MIS mostrou tempo operatório prolongado e menos perda de sangue, sem reduzir a necessidade de analgésicos nem o tempo de permanência no hospital. A correção inicial da escoliose pela convexidade diminuiu a incidência de parafusos mau posicionados no orifício, não houve perda de correção, mobilidade dos implantes e não-união.

Descritores: Escoliose/cirurgia; Adolescente; Coluna vertebral, Parafusos ósseos; Procedimentos cirúrgicos minimamente invasivos.

INTRODUCTION

Conventional posterior approaches to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis require ample muscle exposure and dissection, which is associated with blood loss, wound complications, significant postoperative pain with significant analgesic requirements, and prolonged recovery times.^1-5

Minimally invasive surgical approaches are increasingly being used in different spinal pathologies with the aim of reducing the morbidity associated with wider approaches.^6-11 These minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of scoliosis via the posterior approach have been used less frequently, and in the case of patients with AIS, their application is more demanding as they involve a greater number of instrumented levels, and the presence of significant spinal rotation hinders the insertion of implants using these techniques.¹² There is also the problem of obtaining adequate fusion, and the difficulty of inserting the rod and of performing corrective maneuvers through small approaches. There are very few publications in the literature on the use of MIS in deformities, and some refer to adult and lumbar scoliosis.¹³

Minimally invasive approaches for the surgical treatment of scoliosis via the posterior approach that have been described are performed using small approaches under radiological control at each level. These approaches claim to involve less surgical aggression and possibly reduce surgical bleeding, analgesic requirements and complications, and could shorten hospitalization times.

In this study, we present a new surgical technique for the minimally invasive treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis via the posterior approach using pedicle screws at all levels. The short- and long-term results are presented, comparing this group of patients with another group with similar characteristics, treated using a conventional approach.

METHODS

This is a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing two homogeneous groups of 10 patients each with Lenke type 1A AIS, with curves of similar characteristics. One group was treated with the minimally invasive technique discussed here (group 1) and the other conventionally (group 2), all with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and radioscopic control (Table 1).

Ten patients (group 1) with Lenke type 1A AIS (Figure 1), average age of 14.3 years (R: 12.1 -16.8) and mean angular value of 60° (R: 53º -71º). In all these cases, the apex was located between T8 and T10, with a mean value of vertebral rotation of 18º Perdriolle (R: 7-23) and mean thoracic kyphosis T5-T12 of +25º (R: 11-40). This group was treated surgically via the posterior approach, performing a minimally invasive approach according to the technique described below. Proximal fusion reached T2 in seven of the patients and T3 in three, and distally L1 in six, and L2 in the remaining four.

Surgical technique for the minimally invasive approach to scoliosis (performed on five fresh cadavers by four of the authors: JIM, JB, EH and CB):

Under general anesthesia, with the patient in the prone position, we made a posterior longitudinal skin incision at the midline that included all the selected levels, dissecting the subcutaneous fascia up to about two centimeters from the midline. A caudal to cephalic opening was made in the thoracolumbar fascia (Figure 2), starting at the lumbar level, using the Wiltse approach, reaching the thoracic level one centimeter from the midline and extracting all the superficial muscles of the back (latissimus dorsi, trapezius, serratus posterior superior and inferior) that are inserted into the posterior layer of the thoracolumbar fascia, accessing the deep musculature (spinalis thoracis and longissimus thoracis).

To reach the posterior vertebral elements in the lumbar region, a Wiltse approach is used - making a longitudinal opening three centimeters from the midline in the fibers of the longissimus thoracis (Figure 3) until the lumbar joints can be palpated - and the thoracic spine is accessed via the intermuscular space between the spinalis thoracis and longissimus thoracis until the transverse apophysis can be palpated. Access is the same in the upper thoracic region, with the exception that it is necessary to previously extract the splenius from the neck of the midline.

Once the joints in the lumbar region and the transverse apophysis in the thoracic portion have been clearly identified, primarily by palpation, the joints, transverse apophyses and the pars interarticularis are exposed through periosteal stripping and decortication. This exposed area represents approximately one square centimeter. The thoracic exposure is performed from lower to upper transverse apophysis, and is the process that produces the most bleeding. Sufficient tissue is detached to perform the arthrotomy and view the entry point of the pedicle screw (upper part of transverse apophysis and lateral half of the joint) using the freehand technique. With the arthrotomy, the spine is also flexibilized and arthrodesis is favored at each level.

The screws are inserted on the convex side first due to the greater technical ease and less risk of spinal and vascular injury. The pedicles here are wider and more vertical, the spinal cord and major blood vessels are further away, and the screws are positioned using the freehand technique, with correction of the scoliosis using the Coplanar^® system (Figure 4) on the convex side.¹⁴

This stage is followed by placement of the screws on the concave side, also using the freehand technique and the concavity rod (Figure 5) and additional correction maneuvers are used, with hooks if necessary. Finally the Coplanar^® (Medtronic) is removed from the convex side and the second permanent rod is placed on the convex side. A local cancellous bone graft is transferred to the Putty bone graft (Bone Grafting Accell Connexuis^®) in the joints and in the rest of the exposed area, and the surgical wound is closed in planes.

Ten other patients (group 2) also with Lenke type 1A AIS, average age of 15.3 years (R:11.0-17.4), and angular value of 56º (R: 45-66), all with apex located between T8 and T10, with a mean vertebral rotation value of 16º Perdriolle (R: 12-32) and mean thoracic kyphosis between T5-T12+20º (R: 10-36), underwent surgical correction of scoliosis using a conventional approach and pedicle screws with the freehand technique, fusing proximally in six of the patients up to T2 and in four at T3, and distally up to L1 in seven and up to L2 in the remaining three. The Coplanar^® technique was also used in this group, but only after all the screws had been inserted, both on the convex and concave sides.

Blood loss, surgery times, analgesic requirements over the first three postoperative days, postoperative complications, the location of the screws on the concave side through postoperative CT scan, postoperative correction, implant failures, number of cases of non-fusion and losses of correction were compared in both groups.

RESULTS

The mean surgery time of the ten AIS group 1 (MIS) was 6.1 hours (R: 5.1-7.9), while in group 2 (conventional) it was 3.4 hours (R: 2.9-4.7). Intraoperative blood loss in group 1 was 270 cc (R: 220-600) while in group 2 it was 720 cc (R: 450-1160). The analgesic requirements (continuous infusion of tramadol and enantyum) were slightly higher in group 1. The position of the pedicle screws was investigated in the postoperative period using CT scan,^15-20 following the malposition criteria of Kim et al.²¹ Of the 101 screws on the concave side of group 1 (all inserted by the same expert surgeon), six screws were found outside the pedicle (6%), two medial and four external, all of them minimally outside the pedicle and all within the vertebral body. Of the 89 pedicle screws of the concave side of group 2, eleven were not completely contained in the pedicle (12.3%), three medial and eight external, and they were all contained in the vertebral body. Of the screws of the convex side (inserted by less experienced surgeons), 12.6% of the screws of group 1 and 21.6% of those of group 2 were malpositioned, but all of them were included in the vertebral body. The average hospital stay showed no significant differences: 7.6 Days (R:6-10) of average value in group 1, and 7.1 days (6-11) of average value in group 2. (Table 2) No intra- or postoperative complications were recorded in either of the two groups.

After an average follow-up of 39 months (R: 29-41) in group 1 and 35 months (R: 26-39) in group 2, the values for final correction of scoliosis were 81% (R:73-89) and 80% (R:68-96), respectively. (Figure 1) The final T5-T12 thoracic kyphosis had a mean value of 17º (R: 16-26) in group 1 and 22º (R: 15-24) in group 2. No significant losses of correction were found (8% in group 1 and 11% in group 2) and there were no implant failures or cases of non-fusion in either group at the end of the follow-up period.

DISCUSSION

The term "minimally invasive" used in this study could be challenged, and perhaps it would be more correct to use "less invasive". But we found the use of "minimally invasive" to be appropriate based on two aspects: firstly, the vertebral bone exposure and muscle detachment are negligible, markedly lower than using the conventional technique, and secondly, our initial strategy was to study the results of a minimally invasive technique carried out with an ample conventional medial longitudinal cutaneous approach, aiming to reduce the initial surgical times of exposure that would certainly be longer if small skin incisions were made. In a second stage, after verifying the satisfactory outcome of the minimally invasive surgical technique with a conventional cutaneous approach, the same technique would be applied using three smaller longitudinal central cutaneous approaches, with the same minimally invasive technique of spinal exposure. Therefore, the technique that we present has only a cutaneous approach that is similar to the conventional technique, but is minimally invasive in the rest of the anatomical structures involved, and this aspect justifies the use of this term.²²

With the surgical technique that we propose, correcting scoliosis initially on the convex side to facilitate the insertion of the most difficult screws on the concave side by placing them with the curve corrected, the percentage of malpositioned screws on the concave side was lower than on the convex side, even though the pedicles of the concave side are smaller, and the vertebral rotation in scoliosis hinders it, while presenting a greater risk of spinal and vascular injury. Based on these data it would be possible to propose the initial correction of scoliosis on the convex side before inserting the screws on the concave side, which are more difficult and involve a higher risk. This technique would be even more suitable for more severe curves with greater rotation, where the insertion of screws on the concave side becomes more difficult.

Nevertheless, the above data on better location of the pedicle screws on the concave side compared to those on the convex side may be biased because the surgeon knew beforehand that the location of the screws would be analyzed with CT scan in the postoperative period of the patients submitted to the MIS technique; however, this situation was not raised in the cases of conventional approach, because these patients were chosen at random from a group of surgeries where the study was conducted with postoperative CT to analyze neurophysiological screw monitoring values.

Regarding the recording of comparative intraoperative data on the two groups, our results are similar to those published in the literature, with the use of percutaneous techniques.^23-38

In our series the minimally invasive technique only decreased the surgical bleeding, but at the cost of a much longer surgery time (almost double that of patients treated using the conventional technique), although this could be partially justified by the learning curve for this technique, as the surgery time declined slightly in the last cases. Therefore, we do not believe that the longer surgery time of minimally invasive approaches should be attributed to the learning curve, but instead, to the slower exposure and the laboriousness of the technique, since it requires more careful and elaborate exposure for the placement of the screws.

A study has been published recently proposing a hybrid approach to the treatment of AIS, one side minimally invasive and the other opened in the conventional manner. The surgeon creates a lateral mini approach to the retroperitoneal approach, and through this approach, performs discectomy and interpositioning of cages filled with bone graft, making a second posterior approach during the same operation, by means of a posterior incision longitudinal to the thoracic levels and mini lumbar incisions for the insertion of pedicle screws and osteotomies, obtaining acceptable clinical and radiographic results. However, its authors recommend a broader comparative study to enable firm conclusions to be drawn.³⁹

Another aspect to consider with regard to the minimally invasive technique that we propose is that the arthrodesis achieved in these cases may be less rigid and more elastic, as the fused area is smaller. This fact could reduce the complications associated with the degeneration of the adjacent discs in these patients with a long life expectancy.

A weak point of this study is the low number of patients in whom the minimally invasive technique was used. But at the time this study was designed, one of the questions we raised was whether the much smaller area of arthrodesis in comparison to the conventional technique could give rise to pseudoarthrosis in a significant number of cases, which is why the authors chose a small number of patients. To this effect one of the significant findings of this study, that can be used in the future, is the absence of cases of pseudoarthrosis despite the small arthrodesis surface used, and this aspect of its good long-term results, without complications, supports the development of minimally invasive techniques for the surgical treatment of scoliosis.

In the current situation, with non-specific instrumentations for minimally invasive AIS correction techniques, we cannot recommend this minimally invasive technique based solely on the fact that it involves less surgical bleeding, as it is also associated with a considerable increase in surgery time. Furthermore, no benefit is obtained in analgesia requirements or hospitalization times. We have no doubt that in the near future, the development of specific instruments for the correction of scoliosis with a minimal invasive approach would significantly shorten surgery times, further improving the results in regard to intraoperative bleeding. In this situation, the technique that we propose, or modifications of it, might justify its use.

CONCLUSIONS

The surgical correction of AIS with the minimally invasive technique compared to the conventional technique reduced surgical bleeding and increased surgery time. It did not change the postoperative analgesic requirements or the average hospitalization time. The initial correction of scoliosis on the convex side through the minimally invasive approach decreased the incidence of malpositioned screws on the concave side compared to the control group. The minimally invasive technique that we present did not lead to loss of correction or mobilization of the implants and there was not a single case of non-union after a minimum follow-up of 39 months. This situation was similar to that of the group treated conventionally.

At the present time, with non-specific instrumentations for the minimally invasive treatment of scoliosis, we do not consider it justifiable to continue using this minimally invasive technique, as even though it reduced intraoperative blood loss, it significantly increased the surgery time, without bringing any benefit in terms of analgesia requirements or hospitalization stay.

Nevertheless, its good technical results, good consolidation and the absence of long-term complications leave the door open for the development of minimally invasive techniques for the surgical treatment of scoliosis.

REFERENCES

• 1. Dhall SS, Wang MY, Mummaneni PV. Clinical and radiographic comparison of mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in 42 patients with long-term follow-up. J Neurosurg Spine. 2008;9(6):560-5.
• 2. Shunwu F, Xing Z, Fengdong Z, Xiangqian F. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010;35(17):1615-20.
• 3. Wang J, Zhou Y, Zhang ZF, Li CQ, Zheng WJ, Liu J. Comparison of one-level minimally invasive and open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis grades 1 and 2. Eur Spine J. 2010;19(10):1780-4.
• 4. Park P, Foley KT. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with reduction of spondylolisthesis: technique and outcomes after a minimum of 2 years' follow-up. Neurosurg Focus. 2008;25(2):E16.
• 5. Isaacs RE, Podichetty VK, Santiago P, Sandhu FA, Spears J, Kelly K, et al. Minimally invasive microendoscopy-assisted transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with instrumentation. J Neurosurg Spine. 200;3(2):98-105.
• 6. Fuentes S, Metellus P, Fondop J, Pech-Gourg G, Dufour H, Grisoli F. Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and kyphoplasty for management of thoracolumbar burst fractures. Neurochirurgie. 2007;53(4):272-6.
• 7. Scheufler KM, Dohmen H, Vougioukas VI. Percutaneous transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar instability. Neurosurgery. 2007;60(4 Suppl 2):203-12.
• 8. Schwender JD, Holly LT, Rouben DP, Foley KT. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF): technical feasibility and initial results. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2005;18:S1-6.
• 9. Wang MY, Anderson DG, Poelstra KA, Ludwig SC. Minimally invasive posterior fixation. Neurosurgery. 2008;63(Suppl 3):197-203
• 10. Pelegri C, Benchikh El Fegoun A, Winter M, Brassart N, Bronsard N, et al. Percutaneous osteosynthesis of lumbar and thoracolumbar spine fractures without neurological deficit: surgical technique and preliminary results. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot. 2008;94(5):456-63.
• 11. Blondel B, Fuentes S, Tropiano P, Roche P, Métellus P, Dufour H. Systems for  long-segment percutaneous spinal fixation: technical feasibility for various indications. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2011;153(5):985-91.
• 12. Sarwahi V, Wollowick AL, Sugarman EP, Horn JJ, Gambassi M, Amaral TD. Minimally invasive scoliosis surgery: an innovative technique in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Scoliosis. 2011;6:16.
• 13. Anand N, Baron EM, Thaiyananthan G, Khalsa K, Goldstein TB. Minimally invasive multilevel percutaneous correction and fusion for adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis: a technique and feasibility study. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2008;21(7):459-67.
• 14. Vallespir GP, Flores JB, Trigueros IS, Sierra EH, Fernández PD, Olaverri JC, et al. Vertebral coplanar alignment: a standardized technique for three dimensional correction in scoliosis surgery: technical description and preliminary results in Lenke type 1 curves. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008;33(14):1588-97.
• 15. Liljenqvist UR, Halm HF, Link TM. Pedicle screw instrumentation of the thoracic spine in idiopathic scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997;22(19):2239-45.
• 16. Suk SI, Lee CK, Kim WJ, Chung YJ, Park YB. Segmental pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1995;20(12):1399-405.
• 17. Suk SI, Kim WJ, Lee SM, Kim JH, Chung ER. Thoracic pedicle screw fixation in spinal deformities: are they really safe? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001;26(18):2049-57.
• 18. Belmont PJ Jr, Klemme WR, Dhawan A, Polly DW Jr. In vivo accuracy of thoracic pedicle screws. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001;26(21):2340-6
• 19. Kim YJ, Lenke LG, Bridwell KH, Cho YS, Riew KD. Free hand pedicle screw placement in the thoracic spine: is it safe? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004;29(3):333-42.
• 20. Halm H, Niemeyer T, Link T, Liljenqvist U. Segmental pedicle screw instrumentation in idiopathic thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis. Eur Spine J. 2000;9(3):191-7.
• 21. Kim YJ, Lenke LG, Cheh G, Riew KD. Evaluation of pedicle screw placement in the deformed spine using intraoperative plain radiographs: a comparison with computerized tomography. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005;30(18):2084-8.
• 22. Amer F, Samdani, MD, Jahangir Asghar MD. Case report: Minimally Invasive Approach in the Treatment of Adolescent Deformity. Pediatric Spine Surgeons. 2009. Disponível em: http://www.spineedu.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=g7XxtIkleJ4%3D&tabid=80
• 23. Wimmer C. Percutaneous fusion technique on the thoracolumbar spine with the Expedium LIS. Oper Orthop Traumatol. 2008;20(6):511-24.
• 24. Assaker R. Minimal access spinal technologies: state-of-the-art, indications, and techniques. Joint Bone Spine. 2004;71(6):459-69.
• 25. Wimmer C. Minimal invasive spine fusion in lumbar spine. In: Degenerative Lumbar Spine Meeting. Valencia, March 1112, 2004. p. 34.
• 26. Wimmer C. Ein neues minimal invasives System an der Wirbelsäule. Jatros 2005;4:69.
• 27. Wimmer C. Less invasive spine fusion: a comparison study. In: International 24th Course of Percutaneous Endoscopic Spinal. Surgery and Complementary Minimal Invasive Techniques. Zurich, January 2627, 2006. p. 26.
• 28. Kawaguchi Y, Matsui H, Tsuji H. Changes in serum creatine phosphokinase MM isoenzyme after lumbar spine surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997;22(9):1018-23.
• 29. Kawaguchi Y, Matsui H, Tsuji H. Back muscle injury after posterior lumbar spine surgery. A histologic and enzymatic analysis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1996;21(8):941-4.
• 30. Kawaguchi Y, Matsui H, Tsuji H. Back muscle injury after posterior lumbar spine surgery. Part 1: Histologic and histochemical analyses in rats. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1994;19(22):2590-7.
• 31. Styf JR, Willén J. The effects of external compression by three different retractors on pressure in the erector spine muscles during and after posterior lumbar spine surgery in humans. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1998;23(3):354-8.
• 32. Sihvonen T, Herno A, Paljärvi L, Airaksinen O, Partanen J, Tapaninaho A. Local denervation atrophy of paraspinal muscles in postoperative failed back syndrome. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1993;18(5):575-81.
• 33. Kim DY, Lee SH, Chung SK, Lee HY. Comparison of multifidus muscle atrophy and trunk extension muscle strength: percutaneous versus open pedicle screw fixation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005;30(1):123-9.
• 34. Weber BR, Grob D, Dvorák J, Müntener M. Posterior surgical approach to the lumbar spine and its effect on the multifidus muscle. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997;22(15):1765-72.
• 35. Dhall SS, Wang MY, Mummaneni PV. Clinical and radiographic comparison of mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in 42 patients with long-term follow-up. J Neurosurg Spine. 2008;9:560-5.
• 36. Foley KT, Lefkowitz MA. Advances in minimally invasive spine surgery. Clinn Neurosurg. 2002;49:499-517.
• 37. Park P, Upadhyaya C, Garton HJ, Foley KT. The impact of minimally invasive spine surgery on perioperative complications in overweight or obese patients. Neurosurgery. 2008;62(3):693-9.
• 38. Korovessis P, Hadjipavlou A, Repantis T. Minimal invasive short posterior instrumentation plus balloon kyphoplasty with calcium phosphate for burst and severe compression lumbar fractures. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008;33(6):658-67.
• 39. Park P, La Marca F. Combined "hybrid" open and minimally invasive surgical correction of adult thoracolumbar scoliosis: a retrospective cohort study. Neurosurgery. 2013;72(2):151-8.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Jan 2014
• Date of issue
  Dec 2013

History

• Received
  07 Oct 2013
• Accepted
  12 Nov 2013