Minimally invasive unilateral lumbar interbody fusion (UNILIF) in over-80-year-olds. Continuous series of 42 patients at 1.4 years' follow-up.

Abstract Introduction In lumbar stenosis, surgery aims to improve quality of life in increasingly elderly patients. Minimally invasive techniques better suit the requirements of elderly patients with increasing functional demand. Hypothesis The UNILIF unilateral lumbar interbody fusion technique improves functional scores at 1 year in over-80 year-olds, with low morbidity. Method Patients undergoing minimally invasive decompression with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) associated to unilateral pedicle screwing for degenerative lumbar stenosis were analyzed at a minimum 1 year's follow-up. SF12, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Quebec scores and sagittal spinopelvic radiographic parameters were assessed at follow-up. Surgical and general complications were also collated. Results In all, 42 patients (64.3% female; mean age, 83.7 ± 2.9 years) were treated by UNILIF at levels L2-L3 (3.8%), L3-L4 (15.4%), L4-L5 (71.2%) and L5-S1 (9.6%). Mean follow-up was 520 ± 226 days (range, 340–1166 days). Mean preoperative SF12 score was 77.5 ± 10.9, with significant improvement at last follow-up: 81.9 ± 138 (p  Conclusion Lumbar stenosis surgery by UNILIF improved functional scores at 1 year, with low morbidity. It is a suitable strategy for degenerative lumbar stenosis in elderly patients. Level of evidence IV, non-comparative cohort study.