AIM: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of recurrent disk disease in patients who underwent unilateral and bilateral percutaneous pedicle screw instrumentation with Mis-TLIF.

MATERIAL and METHODS: 10 patients treated with unilateral percutaneous instrumentation plus Mis-TLIF formed Group 1 while the other 10 patients treated with bilateral percutaneous instrumentation plus Mis-TLIF formed Group 2. Clinical outcomes were graded using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores. Peroperative and 2-year follow-up scores were obtained. Postoperative imaging techniques were used for the assessment of fusion, subsidence and spinal alignment.

RESULTS: According to preoperative and postoperative VAS/ODI scores, statistically significant differences were noted in the unilaterally and bilaterally instrumented group. However, a statistically significant difference was not observed between the unilateral and bilateral groups. Radiological evidence of successful arthrodesis was noted in 8 of 10 patients (80%) in the unilaterally instrumented group and in 9 of 10 patients (90%) in the bilaterally instrumented group at the 2 years follow-up. No metal failure, cage migration, vertebral fracture, subsidence or adjacent level disease was experienced.

CONCLUSION: Mis-TLIF with unilateral percutaneous pedicle screw instrumentation is an excellent option in the treatment of selected recurrent disk disease patients.