Comparative efficacy of UBE-LIF and MIS-TLIF in Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Abstract

Abstract Objective To evaluate the efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopy lumbar interbody fusion (UBE-LIF) in the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis and instability. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 64 single-segment lumbar spondylolisthesis and instability patients between May 2020 and November 2020, 30 of whom underwent UBE-LIF and 34 of whom underwent minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, hospitalization days and the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the rate of bone fusion were recorded. Results All patients were followed up with an average of 26.26 ± 2.15 months. The average operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the UBE-LIF group were less than those in the MIS-TLIF group (P < 0.05). In both groups, VAS score improved from preoperative (7.07 ± 0.83) to postoperative Day 1 (4.4 ± 0.56), ODI improved from preoperative (55.7 ± 2.49) to postoperative Day 1 (37.57 ± 3.01), and in MIS-TLIF group, VAS score improved from preoperative (7.15 ± 1.02) to postoperative Day 1 (4.88 ± 0.98), ODI improved from preoperative (55.94 ± 2.5) to postoperative Day 1 (40.06 ± 3.68), and the postoperative Day 1 VAS score and ODI were significantly improved, with a difference that was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The VAS and ODI, respectively at 3 months and the last follow-up were not significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant difference in bone fusion between the two groups. Conclusion UBE-LIF technology is safe and effective for the decompression of lumbar instability and spondylolisthesis. It can achieve the same decompression and fusion effect as MIS-TLIF. It is an effective operation for the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis and instability.