Abstract: Objective To observe the clinical effect of extraforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(ELIF) technique in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases.
Methods Data of 18 patients of lumbar degenerative diseases were treated by bilateral fixation via ELIF technique in the department of spinal surgery of our hospital from January 2017 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative complications,visual analogue scale(VAS),JOA score and imaging examination of lumbar pain,all patients were followed up before operation,1 week,3 months,6 months and 1 year after operation to evaluate the curative effect.According to the CT,the intervertebral fusion was evaluated.
Results All the 18 patients were followed up successfully.The average operation time was(91.06±5.08)min,and the intraoperative blood loss was(131.89±8.65)ml.Compared with preoperative parameters,the scores of VAS and ODI decreased significantly at the final follow-up(P<0.05).No serious complications such as nerve injury and dural rupture occurred postoperatively.One patient was stimulated by traction and relieved after symptomatic treatment for 1 week.At the last follow-up,no cage displacement,subsidence and internal fixation failure were found.According to bridewell evaluation standard,all the patients achieved grade I-Ⅱ fusion,and the average time of bone graft fusion was 6.5 months.
Conclusion The ELIF technique for bilateral fixation in the treatment of some lumbar degenerative diseases has ideal curative effect,can reduce surgical trauma.It is in line with the concept of rapid rehabilitation and is worthy of further promotion and application.

Key words: lumbar degenerative diseases, extraforaminal lumbar interbody fusion technique, bilateral fixation with pedicle screw