Minimally Invasive Lateral Approach for the Management of Adult Degenerative Scoliosis.

ABSTRACT

Minimally invasive lateral releases for the correction of lumbar scoliosis are becoming an increasingly common treatment alternative to posterior osteotomies or surgery via an open anterior approach. Minimally invasive approaches minimize blood loss and morbidity, which may be important in older patients who often have substantial comorbidities. Anterior column realignment allows lumbar lordosis to be restored via a minimally invasive lateral approach, which restores sagittal balance and is correlated with improvements in health-related quality of life. Surgeons should understand the development of, the indications for, the surgical technique for, and the complications and early clinical outcomes of the minimally invasive lateral approach to the spine.