@article{GilbertHeintelJakubietzetal.2018, author = {Gilbert, F. and Heintel, T. M. and Jakubietz, M. G. and K{\"o}stler, H. and Sebald, C. and Meffert, R. H. and Weng, A. M.}, title = {Quantitative MRI comparison of multifidus muscle degeneration in thoracolumbar fractures treated with open and minimally invasive approach}, series = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, volume = {19}, journal = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, number = {75}, doi = {10.1186/s12891-018-2001-2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-175742}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Background: Minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation has less approach-related morbidity than open screw placement and is allegedly less traumatizing on paravertebral muscles, as there is no requirement to mobilize and retract the adjacent muscle portion. The approach-related long-term effects to the morphology of the paravertebral muscles are unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term amount of fatty degeneration of the multifidus muscle in patients treated with a classical open or a minimally invasive approach. Methods: Fourteen Patients meeting inclusion criteria were selected. In all patients a singular fracture of the thoracolumbar spine with a two-level posterior instrumentation was treated, either using an open approach or a minimally invasive approach. All patients underwent quantitative MRI spectroscopy for quantification of the fatty degeneration in the multifidus muscle as a long-term proof for muscle loss after minimum 4-year follow-up. Clinical outcome was assessed using Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, SF-36 and VA-scale for pain. Results: The minimally invasive approach group failed to show less muscle degeneration in comparison to the open group. Total amount of fatty degeneration was 14.22\% in the MIS group and 12.60\% in the open group (p = 0.64). In accordance to MRI quantitative results there was no difference in the clinical outcome after a mean follow up of 5.9 years (±1.8). Conclusion: As short-term advantages of minimal invasive screw placement have been widely demonstrated, no advantage of the MIS, displaying a significant difference in the amount of fatty degeneration and resulting in a better clinical outcome could be found. Besides the well-known short-term advantage of minimally invasive pedicle screw placement, a long-term advantage, such as less muscle degeneration and thus superior clinical results, compared to the open approach could not be shown.}, language = {en} }