Objective:

To assess the early clinical effects of oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) combined with posterior long-segment internal fixation through O-arm CT navigation for the treatment of degenerative scoliosis.

Methods:

The clinical data of 15 patients with degenerative scoliosis treated by OLIF combined with posterior long-segment internal fixation through O-arm CT navigation between April 2016 and December were retropectively analyzed. There were 3 males and 12 females, aged from 55 to 73 years old with an average of (62.2±5.3) years. The operation time, intraoperation blood loss, the rate of excellentand good of pedicle screw placement, and complications were recorded. Before surgery, 1 week after surgery and at the final follow-up, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the patients’ clinical symptoms;standing X-ray film, lumbar spine CT examination was performed at 6 months after surgery to observe coronal scoliosis Cobb angle, lumbar lordosis (LL), intervertebral space height, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), intervertebral fusion, etc.

Results:

The mean operation time and intraoperative blood loss were respectively (98.7±16.8) min and (50.2±10.7) ml in OLIF surgery, while were (101.5±23.4) min and (63.1±19.7) ml in the surgery of posterior long segment internal fixation. The total mean operation time and intraoperative blood loss were (200.2±40.2) min and (113.3±30.4) ml. All patients were followed from 12 to 25 months with an average of (16.5±5.3) months. Low back pain VAS, lower limb pain VAS and ODI reduced from preoperative (6.8±1.6), (6.2±1.1) scores and (64.6±10.4)% to (1.4±1.0), (1.0±0.5) scores, and (15.8±4.5)% at the final follow-up, the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Coronal scoliosis Cobb angle and SVA decreased from preoperative (20.3±13.5)°, (42.3±16.5) mm to (5.5±3.1)°, (25.1±10.9) mm at the final follow-up, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). LL and intervertebral space height increased from preoperative (25.8±8.2)°, (5.9±2.7) mm to (39.3±9.1)°, (10.9±1.2) at the final follow-up, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Total 240 nails were placed through O-arm CT navigation with the rate of excellent and good of 96%(230/240). Six months after operation, CT of lumbar spine showed interbody fusion of bone. One patient developed anterior medial pain in the left thigh, and two patients experienced transient lefthip flexion after surgery, both of whom recovered during subsequent follow-up.

Conclusion:

The early clinical effect of oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion combined with posterior long segment internal fixation through O-arm CT navigation is satisfactory in treatment of degenerative scoliosis. It has the advantages of minimal invasion, accurate navigation of nail placement, high bone fusion rate and few complications. It can provide new options for minimally invasive treatment of degenerative scoliosis.