Study Of Laparoscopic Discectomy With Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion:

Abd Elsalam Abd Elaleem Ahmed

The new trend in surgery today is towards the minimally invasive techniques. So, minimally invasive spine surgery is gaining popularity.Based on the prelaminary review of the initial patients who showed minimal to moderate blood loss with relatively breif hospital stay and analgesic requirements, there is early support for the postulate that prospective studies and long term follow-up evaluations may prove this procedure to be an effective minimally invasive alternative to traditional antorior and posterior fusion procedures.A major factor in the success of the procedure is the incorporation into the surgical team of a skilled laparoscopist, who is familiar with anatomy and structures at risk in the anterior approach.Magnetic resonance imaging with special cuts is invaluable for promoting confidence in the planning for this procedure and for minimizing potential operative risk ad morbidity.Laparoscopic approach to the spine showed many advantages over the traditional techniques inspite of the disadvantages and complications that may be attributed to the early experience in that technique. So it is unwise to omit the subject totally or to be over-zealous about it.The procedure is technically demanding and has a long learning curve. One can imagine that during the initial development of laparoscopic cholecystectomy there was many objections against it.The zealousness must be tempered with scientific effort. The patients have to be properly selected. Also, there should be studies discussing the long term follow-up of the cases and studies comparing this particular technique with other well established techniques as regards safety and efficiency.