POPW.01.03.00-06-010/09-00 Operational Program Development of Eastern Poland 2007�C2013, Priority Axis I, Modern Economy, Operations 1.3. Innovations reference Promotion. The authors wish to thank Renata Los, Urszula Kosikowska, Anna Biernasiuk, Marek Juda, Agnieszka Grzegorczyk, Janina Kulik, Ewa Sienkiewicz, and Barbara Rozanska for their contributions to this project. They are very grateful to the pediatric practices that participated in this study including: NZOZ ��Zdrowie�� Lublin, NZOZ ��Medicor�� Lublin, and ��Lustmed�� Justyna Nowicka Melgiew. They thank the headmasters and staff of the DCCs and the parents and children that collaborated in the study.
Minimally invasive spine surgery is an alternative to traditional open operations for the treatment of degenerative spine disease.
Advantages include less major complications, less blood loss, less wound infections, earlier patient mobilization, and shorter hospital stays [1�C7]. Minimally invasive lateral interbody fusion (MIS LIF), such as, with Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF; NuVasive, San Diego, CA, USA) or Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA), has been used to treat degenerative spine disease, including degenerative scoliosis [4�C8]. In the lumbar spine, a retroperitoneal transpsoas approach is taken. Using this technique, coronal Cobb angles can be improved [5�C7, 9]. The effects of sagittal Cobb angles, such as, with lumbar lordosis (LL) and the overall global sagittal balance have not been as well established, however [9, 10].
This is an important topic since a positive global sagittal imbalance is most closely linked to a decreased quality of life, health status outcomes, Dacomitinib and function [11]. Sagittal imbalance can lead to higher energy requirements to stand and ambulate, leading to early fatigue, intolerance to standing, and walking with compensation through other joints.The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the XLIF technique in the lumbar spine on the restoration of segmental and regional LL in patients with degenerative spine disease. An additional study focus will be to evaluate the effect on segmental disc heights in the sagittal plane.2. Materials and MethodsThis is an IRB-approved, retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. Thirty-five consecutive patients with available preoperative and postoperative radiographs for analysis were included in this study (Table 1). The mean age at the time of surgery was 61.3 years. All patients had evidence of lumbar degenerative disease (spondylosis, adult degenerative scoliosis, or adjacent segment failure). Table 1Demographics.