Purpose: To evaluate the technical feasibility and advantage of single-position oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and the subsequent clinical and radiologic outcomes

Materials and methods: Among the 93 patients that underwent OLIF from January 2017 to January 2019, those that with single-level pathology and followed up for at least a year were enrolled. Deformity, stenosis due to trauma, and patients that underwent additional direct posterior decompression were excluded. Patients were divided into those that underwent the whole surgical procedure on lateral position (Group A) and those that underwent cage insertion on lateral position and subsequent percutaneous pedicle screw fixation after changing the patient to prone position (Group B). Demographics, operative and anesthesia time, clinical outcome, and postoperative complication were compared between the two groups.

Results: Total of 97 patients were enrolled in this study, 36 patients in Group A and 57 patients in Group B. The mean age, and sex ratio, did not differ between the two groups (p>0.05). However, the index levels were more in Group A, which showed a significant difference between two groups (p=0.012). The preoperative diagnosis included degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis, and foraminal stenosis. The mean operative and anesthesia time were 291.1 and 402.6 minutes in Group A, and 232.9 and 297.5 minutes in Group B, respectively. Clinical outcome of VAS back and leg did not show significant difference between the two groups. No complication including pedicle screw malposition occurred in both groups.

Conclusion: Single-position OLIF on lateral position is a feasible procedure that can decrease anesthesia time without complication compared to the conventional position changing method.