Assessing Risk Factors for Radiological Complications After Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (AgeTLIF)

University Hospital Basel

Status: Completed

Conditions: Degenerative Lumbar Spine Diseases

Treatments: Other: Data collection (radiological parameters, outcome information) from electronic patient files in hospital data system

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05266638

2021-02227 mu22Netzer;

Details and patient eligibility

About

This retrospective study is to determine whether age is a risk factor for postoperative complications in patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion; specifically whether the risk (odds) of implant failure and the need for revision surgery increases with age.

Full description

Spinal fusion is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures for the treatment of degenerative spinal disease. Interbody fusion with cages reconstructs the anterior column through disc removal, allowing to maintain proper disc height despite weight bearing, while providing firm fixation of the spinal segments. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has fewer complications and less intraoperative bleeding than posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Elderly patients are at high risk for perioperative and postoperative complications after lumbar fusion. This retrospective study is to determine whether age is a risk factor for postoperative complications in patients undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion; specifically whether the risk (odds) of implant failure and the need for revision surgery increases with age.

Enrollment: 170 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Indications for TLIF surgery (e.g., degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis)
• Existing preoperative upright standing sagittal plane X-ray of lumbar spine with clear visibility of pelvis, sacrum and femoral head
• Existing preoperative MRI of the lumbar region with clear visibility of different fatty infiltration grade and stenosis degree
• Complete follow-up at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively, including clinical and radiographic data

Exclusion criteria

• Neuromuscular diseases such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis according to our records
• Preoperative infection and/or malignancy tumor with involvement of the bony or soft tissue structures of the lumbar spine
• Presence of a documented consent dissent