Comparison of minimally invasive fixation and interbody fusion through Quadrant channel with openinterbody fusion and internal fixation in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation

HUANG Xiao-chuan; LIU Hui

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-252X.2014.04.004

Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive fixation and interbody fusion through Quadrant channel in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation accompanied by lumbar instability. Methods From January 2009 to April 2012, 57 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated and followed up, including 23 patients treated by minimally invasive ifxation and interbody fusion through Quadrant channel and 34 patients treated by open interbody fusion and internal ifxation. The intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, operation time, disc space height, Visual Analogue Scale ( VAS ) score and Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) score were compared between the 2 groups. Results No positioning errors, nerve injuries, cerebrospinal lfuid leakage, disc space infection or other serious complications were found in the patients. The intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage were obviously decreased in the Quadrant operation group, when compared with that in the open operation group ( P<0.05 ). The differences in the operation time were not statistically significant between them ( P>0.05 ). There were no statistically signiifcant differences in the disc space height between the 2 groups preoperatively, at 1 month after the operation and in the latest follow-up. As to the VAS and ODI scores, no statistically signiifcant differences existed between the 2 groups preoperatively and in the latest follow-up, and while the differences were statistically significant at 1 month after the operation. Conclusions The same clinical outcomes can be achieved in the group treated by minimally invasive fixation and interbody fusion through Quadrant channel as in the group treated by open interbody fusion and internal fixation. The minimally invasive fixation and interbody fusion through Quadrant channel is worth popularizing, with the advantages of less surgery trauma and better short-term curative effects.