Good Outcomes Reported With Single-Position Lumbar Surgery

FRIDAY, Dec. 4, 2020 -- Single-position lumbar surgery (SPLS) improves operative efficiency among patients undergoing anterior-posterior lumbar fusion, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in The Spine Journal.

Aaron J. Buckland, M.B.B.S., from NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital in New York City, and colleagues examined the perioperative safety and efficacy of single-position anterior-posterior lumbar fusion surgery in a multicenter retrospective cohort study involving 390 patients undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion and lateral lumbar interbody fusion surgery with bilateral percutaneous pedicle screw fixation between L2 and S1. Overall, 237 patients underwent SPLS and 153 underwent traditional repositioned "Flip" surgery.

The researchers observed significant reductions in operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, and fluoroscopy radiation dosage with SPLS versus Flip. Between the cohorts, perioperative complication rates were similar, except for postoperative ileus, which was significantly lower in the SPLS group. Wounds, vascular injury, neurological complications, and venous thromboembolism did not differ significantly between the groups. Ninety-day return to the operating room did not differ significantly between the groups.

"This practice-changing technique is not only just as safe and effective as the alternatives, it actually has benefits over and above the traditional method," Buckland said in a statement. "With the improved operative efficiencies of single-position surgery, we are performing less invasive procedures, producing better outcomes, and improving safety."

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Posted: December 2020