Study of modified subcutaneous lumbar spine index as a predictor for short-term effectiveness in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of modified subcutaneous lumbar spine index (MSLSI) as a predictor for short-term effectiveness of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in treatment of lumbar degenerative disease (LDD). METHODSBetween February 2014 and October 2019, 450 patients who were diagnosed as LDD and received single-segment TLIF were included in the study. Based on the MSLSI measured by preoperative lumbar MRI, the patients were sorted from small to large and divided into three groups ( n=150). The MSLSI of group A was 0.11-0.49, group B was 0.49-0.73, and group C was 0.73-1.88. There was no significance in gender, age, disease duration, diagnosis, surgical segment, and improved Charlson comorbidity index between groups ( P>0.05). There were significant differences in the subcutaneous adipose depth of the L 4 vertebral body and body mass index (BMI) between groups ( P