Background:

Minimally invasive spine (MIS) fusion is an increasingly common procedure, with advantages over open approach in the form of minimal dissection and superior early clinical outcome. The frequency of complications is known, but the most appropriate surgical revision for this technique remains unclear.

Hypothesis:

The main hypothesis was that early revision surgery, for acute complications after MIS, was possible through mini-invasive approach.

Methods:

A retrospective study of patients undergoing MIS has been performed, with or without transforaminal interbody fusion (TLIF) using specific navigation and ancillary. All surgical revisions were done by minimally invasive approach. Preoperative and surgical data, as well as postoperative complications have been analyzed. The primary endpoint was clinical outcome obtained after surgical revision.

Results:

Data of 187 patients undergoing MIS procedure at 1-4 levels was analyzed. The rate of early revision (within one month) was 5.3%: 0.5% for infection, 1.6% for compressive hematoma, and 2.1% for misplaced screw. The use of intraoperative navigation decreased the frequency of screw misplacement from 4.5% to 1.4%. The rate of surgical revision was 7.8% for surgeons in their learning curve and 3.6% for experienced surgeons.

Discussion:

On these large series, MIS early revision rates were lower than previously reported for conventional fusions. Surgeon’s experience in MIS procedures seems to be crucial to decrease revision and complications rates. Hemorrhagic complications led to multidisciplinary discussions and the establishment of a management protocol. Surgical revisions can be performed by minimally invasive techniques, regardless of the indication.

Level of evidence:

IV, retrospective study.