The Paraspinal Sacrospinalis-Splitting Approach to the Lumbar Spine

Abstract

A bilateral approach to the lumbar spine is described in which each sacrospinalis is split on a sagittal plane three-fourths of the way out to the lateral margin of the muscle. The approach is especially valuable for one-level fusions in a young person with spondylolisthesis. One iliac crest usually supplies enough bone for both sides. We have used this approach in forty-nine patients as an alternative to the mid-line line approach and have found that it is extremely valuable in some circumstances.