Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Wipplinger C, Kim E, Lener S, Navarro-Ramirez R, Kirnaz S, Hernandez R, Melcher C, Paolicelli M, Maryam F, Schmidt F, Härtl R
Journal Global Spine J
Volume 10
Issue 2 Suppl
Pagination 88S-93S
Date Published 05/28/2020
ISSN 2192-5682
Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Technical note, retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: Lumbar stenosis can be effectively treated using tubular unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD). For multilevel stenosis, a multilevel ULBD through separate, alternating crossover approaches has been described as the "slalom technique." To increase efficacy, we introduced this approach with 2 microscopes simultaneously. METHODS: We collected data on 13 patients, with multilevel lumbar stenosis, operated at our institution between 2015 and 2016 by the aforementioned technique. We assessed surgical time (ST), estimated blood loss (EBL), complications, and revision surgeries. Furthermore, we provide a stepwise instruction for performing the tandem microscopic slalom technique in a safe and efficient manner. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 68 ± 8 years. The ST per level was 68 ± 19 minutes with an EBL per level of 39 ± 30 mL. We had no intraoperative complications and none of our patients required a revision surgery during a mean follow-up of 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that this technique is feasible and can be performed safely for multisegmental lumbar spinal stenosis with minimal tissue trauma and low EBL. Furthermore, randomized controlled studies with a larger sample size may be necessary to drive any final conclusions.
DOI 10.1177/2192568219871918
PubMed ID 32528812
PubMed Central ID PMC7263332
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