OBJECTIVE: Mini-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mini-TLIF) and other minimally invasive approaches introduced for the purpose of treating lumbar degenerative disc disease and instability are achieving high success and safety rates as the conventional approaches. Moreover, it has less soft tissue damage, minimal blood loss, and less hospital stay. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from 2012 to 2014 on 28 patients who were subjected to Mini-open TLIF combined with transpedicular screw fixation for spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease. Two paramedian approaches were done, 4 cm for each, to insert the pedicular screws, along with inserting unilateral TLIF cage with autologous bone graft. Decompression was done either unilateral or bilateral according to the patient side of radiculopathy. Sixteen patients (57.2%) were diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis, 7 patients (25%) were diagnosed with isthmic type spondylolisthesis, and 5 patients (17.8%) were diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, 2 of them(7.1%) had previous operations at the same level. Twenty patients (71.4%) were operated at the L4/5 level, and 8 patients (28.6%) at the L5/S1 level. RESULTS: All patients were able to ambulate the next day of surgery. The mean estimated blood loss was 251.79mL. The average hospital stay was 4.14 days. The average follow-up was 9 months. The mean visual analog scale was 1.86 at discharge, 1.68 after 3 months, and 1.38 after 6 months. After 6 months of the operation, MacNab's criteria were good in 23 patients and excellent in 5 patients. We had one case with transient weakness, 2 cases of screw malposition without clinical manifestations, and one case of infection. CONCLUSION: Mini-TLIF approach is an efficient and safe approach for treating instability and degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. The clinical outcome is encouraging and it may be an operation of choice for lumbar spinal fusion in selected patients.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prospective Studies ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; Transplants ; Visual Analog Scale

Background: The thoracic retrolaminar block (TRLB) is a relatively new regional analgesia technique that can be used as an alternative to the thoracic paravertebral block. This study aimed to evaluate the postoperative analgesia effects of ultrasound-guided TRLB in children undergoing open cardiac surgery via median sternotomy incision. Methods: Sixty-six patients aged 2–8 years were recruited. In the TRLB group, 0.25% bupivacaine 0.4 ml/kg was injected into the retrolaminar space on both sides at the level of the T4 lamina. Patients in the control group were injected with 0.9% saline. The primary outcome measure was fentanyl consumption in the first 24 h post-extubation. The secondary outcome measures were the total intraoperative fentanyl consumption, postoperative modified objective pain score (MOPS), and time to extubation. Results: The total intraoperative fentanyl requirements and fentanyl consumption in the first 24 h post-extubation were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the TRLB group (9.3 ± 1.2; 6.9 ± 2.1 μg/kg, respectively) than in the control group (12.5 ± 1.4; 16.6 ± 2.8, respectively). The median (Q1, Q3) time to extubation was significantly shorter (P < 0.001) in the TRLB group (2 [1, 3] h) than in the control group (6 [4.5, 6] h). The MOPS was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the TRLB group than in the control group at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 h post-extubation. Conclusions Bilateral ultrasound-guided TRLB is effective in providing postoperative analgesia in children undergoing open cardiac surgery via median sternotomy incision.

Background: Surgical repair of congenital inguinal hernia results in significant postoperative discomfort and pain. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the pre-emptive analgesic efficacy of a transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Methods: Forty-four patients aged 12 to 60 months who underwent unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy were enrolled. Four patients were excluded, and the remaining were allocated to the control group and the TFP block group. In the TFP block group, 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine 0.25% was instilled in the plane between the transversus abdominis and transversalis fascia, while in the control group 0.9% saline was used instead of bupivacaine. The collected data were the total dose of paracetamol consumed during the first 12 h postoperatively, the postoperative Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) pain score, time to first use of rescue analgesia, number of patients required additional postoperative analgesics, and parents' satisfaction. Results: The median paracetamol consumption was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group, and FLACC pain scores were significantly lower for all study times in the TFP block group with higher parental satisfaction scores than those for the control group. The number of patients who required additional analgesics was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group. Conclusions The use of a TFP block decreases postoperative analgesic consumption and postoperative pain intensity after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Future studies with larger sample size are required to evaluate the actual complications rate of TFP block.

Background: Surgical repair of congenital inguinal hernia results in significant postoperative discomfort and pain. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the pre-emptive analgesic efficacy of a transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Methods: Forty-four patients aged 12 to 60 months who underwent unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy were enrolled. Four patients were excluded, and the remaining were allocated to the control group and the TFP block group. In the TFP block group, 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine 0.25% was instilled in the plane between the transversus abdominis and transversalis fascia, while in the control group 0.9% saline was used instead of bupivacaine. The collected data were the total dose of paracetamol consumed during the first 12 h postoperatively, the postoperative Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) pain score, time to first use of rescue analgesia, number of patients required additional postoperative analgesics, and parents' satisfaction. Results: The median paracetamol consumption was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group, and FLACC pain scores were significantly lower for all study times in the TFP block group with higher parental satisfaction scores than those for the control group. The number of patients who required additional analgesics was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group. Conclusions The use of a TFP block decreases postoperative analgesic consumption and postoperative pain intensity after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Future studies with larger sample size are required to evaluate the actual complications rate of TFP block.