| Objective:To retrospectively study the effect of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF)on the restoration of normal anatomy in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods:The medical records and radiographs of 30 patients undergoing TLIF from between 2003 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.Clinical data and radiographic rneasurements,including preoperative and postoperative intervertebral disc height,slip percents, lumbosacral angle,lumbar lordosis angle and sagittal inclination,were obtained.Statistical analyses included mean values,standard deviation and intraobserver reliability for the measurements that were performed.Results:The preoperative slip percents was 22.7±12.4 and the postoperative slip percents was 8.3±6.1.The preoperative intervertebral disc height was 7.2±1.5 mm and the postoperative intervertebral disc height was 10.3±1.2mm.The preoperative lumbosacral angle,lumbar lordosis angle and sagittal inclination were 42.7±6.8°,55.7±15.1°and 44.2±8.6°respectively,and the postoperative lumbosacral angle,lumbar lordosis angle and sagittal inclination were 41.3±5.6°,58.6±13.9°and 43.8±7.5°respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient for intraobserver reliability for the measurements of intervertebral disc height,slip percents,lumbosacral angle,lumbar lordosis angle and sagittal inclination were 0.79,0.90, 0.91,0.87 and 0.78 respectively.Conclusion:Our results indicate that,for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis,TLIF was capable of restoring intervertebral disc height and decreasing slip percents,but failed to improve lumbosacral angle,lumbar lordosis angle and sagittal inclination.TLIF has limited capacity in restoring radiographic spinal profile of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.Further investigations are needed to determine the long-term outcomes of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis managed with TLIF. |
