5 things to know about minimally invasive lumbar decompression learning curve

Spine

A new study published in The Spine Journal examines the learning curve for spine surgeons performing minimally invasive decompression.

The study includes 228 consecutive patients who underwent primary one- or two-level minimally invasive lumbar decompression by a single surgeon. The first 50 patients were grouped into a single cohort and compared to the subsequent 178 patients. The study also compared outcomes for 50 minimally invasive patients and 50 open technique patients.

 

The researchers found:

 

1. The initial cohort of patients had a greater procedural time and longer length of hospitalization than the second cohort.

 

2. There was similar blood loss, pain scores, complication rates, recurrent herniation rates and reoperation rates between the two groups.

 

3. The open lumbar decompression patients had a higher procedural time, estimated blood loss and longer hospital length of stay than the minimally invasive patients.

 

4. The reoperation rate and 30-day readmission rates were similar between the minimally invasive and open technique patients.

 

5. The researchers concluded, "These findings appear to suggest that although surgical experience may improve perioperative parameters (operative time, length of hospitalization), an MIS LD may initially be performed safely without prior experience."

 

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