Journal of Spine

Surgical Technique of Endoscopic Transforaminal Decompression and Fusion with a Threaded Expandable Interbody Fusion Cage and A Report of 24 Cases

Abstract

Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski*

Fusion of the anterior column with placement of interbody fusion cages is commonly employed in the treatment of instability-related degenerative disc disease that has been proven refractory in non-operative treatment. Interbody fusion cages aid in the containment of bone graft, promotion of more reliable fusion, and restoration of neuroforaminal height. The VariLift^® Interbody Fusion System (VariLift^® system) has been developed as a standalone solution to address subsidence and migration problems seen with traditional lumbar interbody fusion cages that require posterior supplemental transpedicular screw fixation for improved stability. This series of 24 consecutive patients describes patient selection criteria and the technical aspects of this novel endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion technique in a step-by-step fashion. The transforaminal endoscopically assisted interbody fusion with the standalone expandable VariLift^® system represents a simplified alternative to other pedicle screw-based spinal fusion.