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Fritzell, P., Hägg, O. and Nordwall, A. (2003) Complications in Lumbar Fusion Surgery for Chronic Low Back Pain: Comparison of Three Surgical Techniques Used in a Prospective Randomized Study. A Report from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. European Spine Journal, 12, 178-189.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Video-Assisted Anterior Retroperitoneal Approach to the Lumbar Spine. A Minimal Invasive Technique Improved by the Use of Endoscopic Camera to Treat Lumbar Spine Diseases

  AUTHORS: Roberto Bassani, Riccardo Cecchinato, Carlotta Morselli, Pedro Berjano, Claudio Lamartina

  KEYWORDS: Video-Assisted Anterior Retroperitoneal Approach, ALIF, TDR

  JOURNAL NAME: International Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol.7 No.1, January 29, 2016

  ABSTRACT: The anterior retroperitoneal approach is a technique to treat disc degenerative disease (DDD), spinal deformities, traumas, tumors and infections. It can be used to perform Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusions (ALIF) or Total Disc Replacements (TDR). Though being a fast procedure that is becoming more often used by spinal surgeons, the anterior approach requires an adequate knowledge of the anatomy of the abdomen to lessen the risks of intraoperative complications. The authors’ preferred technique is the left retroperitoneal video-assisted approach, using an endoscope to visualize and magnify the deep anatomical structures, discectomy procedure and hardware implant. In a review of our casuistry from 2010 to 2012, 163 patients underwent an anterior lumbar approach, and 139 of these had a single L4-5 or L5-S1 level treatment. A 3.6% rate of global complications (1.44% of major vascular injuries) has been observed, with a mean operation time of 116.4 minutes and a mean blood loss of 156.1 ml. These values show how the anterior retroperitoneal video-assisted approach for the treatment of lumbar diseases is a fast procedure that implies low blood loss, with a low rate of intraoperative complications.