Background:

The novel Oblique lumbar interbody fusion [OLIF] technique has been proposed as a solution to approach related complications of anterior lumbar interbody fusion [ALIF] and lateral lumbar interbody fusion [LLIF]. There exists no study concerning morphological evaluation of retroperitoneal oblique corridor for the Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) technique in the Indian population. The aim of our study was (a) to measure magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based anatomic parameters concerning OLIF operative windows from L2-L3 to L4-L5 level (b) to determine the feasibility of this technique following MRI-based morphometric evaluation in the Indian population.

Material and methods:

We did retrospective MRI analysis of 307 consecutive patients following our exclusion criteria. Bare window, psoas major window and psoas major width were measured from axial T2 MRI image taken at mid disc level from L2-L3 to L4-L5 levels.

Results:

The mean bare window size was largest at L2-L3 (1.39 cm) level followed by L3-L4 and L4-L5 level (1.28 and 0.62 cm respectively), and differences between them were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Females had statistically significant larger bare windows at L2-L3 and L3-L4 level than males (P < 0.001). With increasing age, there was a significant increase in bare window size at each level (P < 0.001). The mean psoas major window (PM^O) and mean psoas major width (PM^I) were largest at L4-L5 level (PM^O = 1.27 cm, PM^I = 3.61 cm) followed by L3-L4 and L2-L3 level (L3-L4: PM^O = 1.19 cm, PM^I = 2.36 cm; L2-L3: PM^O = 0.88 cm, PM^I = 1.39 cm), and differences among each level concerning both parameters were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Both parameters (PM^O, PM^I) were significantly larger in males than females at each level (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The OLIF technique is well suited for lumbar interbody fusion at L2 -L3 and L3-L4 level in the Indian population irrespective of age and sex. At L4-L5 level, overall 17.9 percent of the study population were unsuitable for this technique due to inaccessible bare window. In our opinion, this level may be better suited for OLIF approach in the elderly Indian population, especially for surgeons who are beginning to attempt this technique in their surgical practice. Preoperative MRI evaluation for the OLIF is important to assess its feasibility, as there exists significant age and gender differences in the Indian population for anatomic parameters concerning OLIF operative windows from L2-L3 to L4-L5 levels.

Supplementary information:

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-021-00393-7.