Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Navarro-Ramirez R, Berlin C, Lang G, Hussain I, Janssen I, Sloan S, Askin G, Avila M, Zubkov M, Härtl R
Journal World Neurosurg
Volume 109
Pagination 59-67
Date Published 08/05/2017
ISSN 1878-8769
Keywords Decompression, Surgical, Lumbar Vertebrae, Spinal Canal, Spinal Fusion, Spinal Stenosis
Abstract BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional radiographic methods have been proposed to evaluate the radiographic outcome after indirect decompression through extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF). However, the assessment of neural decompression in a single plane may underestimate the effect of indirect decompression on central canal and foraminal volumes. The present study aimed to assess the reliability and consistency of a novel 3-dimensional radiographic method that assesses neural decompression by volumetric analysis using a new generation of intraoperative fan-beam computed tomography scanner in patients undergoing XLIF. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from 7 patients (9 levels) undergoing XLIF was retrospectively analyzed. Three independent, blind raters using imaging analysis software performed volumetric measurements pre- and postoperatively to determine central canal and foraminal volumes. Intrarater and Interrater reliability tests were performed to assess the reliability of this novel volumetric method. RESULTS: The interrater reliability between the three raters ranged from 0.800 to 0.952, P < 0.0001. The test-retest analysis on a randomly selected subset of three patients showed good to excellent internal reliability (range of 0.78-1.00) for all 3 raters. There was a significant increase in mean volume ≈20% for right foramen, left foramen, and central canal volumes postoperatively (P = 0.0472; P = 0.0066; P = 0.0003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Here we demonstrate a new volumetric analysis technique that is feasible, reliable, and reproducible amongst independent raters for central canal and foraminal volumes in the lumbar spine using an intraoperative computed tomography scanner.
DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.07.155
PubMed ID 28826705
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