• Pratyush Shahi, Tejas Subramanian, Olivia Tuma, Sumedha Singh, Kasra Araghi, Tomoyuki Asada, Maximilian Korsun, Nishtha Singh, Chad Simon, Avani Vaishnav, Eric Mai, Joshua Zhang, Cole Kwas, Myles Allen, Eric Kim, Annika Heuer, Evan Sheha, James Dowdell, Sheeraz Qureshi, and Sravisht Iyer.
• Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 E 70th St, New York, NY, 10021 USA.
• Spine. 2024 May 6.

Study DesignRetrospective review of prospectively collected data.ObjectiveTo analyze temporal trends in improvement after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF).Summary Of Background DataAlthough several studies have shown that patients improve significantly after MIS TLIF, evidence regarding the temporal trends in improvement is still largely lacking.MethodsPatients who underwent primary single-level MIS TLIF for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine and had a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included. Outcome measures were: 1) patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI; Visual Analog Scale, VAS back and leg; 12-Item Short Form Survey Physical Component Score, SF-12 PCS); 2) global rating change (GRC); 3) minimal clinically important difference (MCID); and 4) return to activities. Timepoints analyzed were preoperative, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Trends across these timepoints were plotted on graphs.Results236 patients were included. VAS back and VAS leg were found to have statistically significant improvement compared to the previous timepoint up to 3 months after surgery. ODI and SF-12 PCS were found to have statistically significant improvement compared to the previous timepoint up to 6 months after surgery. Beyond these timepoints, there was no significant improvement in PROMs. 80% of patients reported feeling better compared to preoperative by 3 months. >50% of patients achieved MCID in all PROMs by 3 months. Most patients returned to driving, returned to work, and discontinued narcotics at an average of 21, 20, and 10 days, respectively.ConclusionsPatients are expected to improve up to 6 months after MIS TLIF. Back pain and leg pain improve up to 3 months and disability and physical function improve up to 6 months. Beyond these timepoints, the trends in improvement tend to reach a plateau. 80% of patients feel better compared to preoperative by 3 months after surgery.Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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