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Contralateral radiculopathy after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

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Abstract

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an effective treatment for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease. Opposite side radiculopathy after the TLIF procedure has been recognized in this institution but has not been addressed in the literature. We present a case of opposite side radiculopathy after the TLIF procedure. We believe that this complication is related to asymptomatic stenosis on the contralateral side that is unmasked by the increased lordosis of the TLIF. The authors recommend increasing both disc height and foraminal height when choosing an interbody graft, and possibly decompressing the opposite foramen when preoperative MRI demonstrates foraminal stenosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, PO Box 800159, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0159, USA

    Travis Hunt, Francis H. Shen & Vincent Arlet

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, PO Box 800159, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0159, USA

    Christopher I. Shaffrey

Authors
  1. Travis Hunt
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  2. Francis H. Shen
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  3. Christopher I. Shaffrey
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  4. Vincent Arlet
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincent Arlet.

Additional information

Nothing was received from industry to support this paper. An reviewer's comment on this paper is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0389-8.

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Hunt, T., Shen, F.H., Shaffrey, C.I. et al. Contralateral radiculopathy after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Eur Spine J 16 (Suppl 3), 311–314 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0387-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0387-x

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