Clinical, Functional, and Radiological Outcomes of Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Spine Pathologies: A Prospective Study From a Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Degenerative lumbar spine disorders are a frequent cause of persistent pain and disability. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has become a standard procedure to achieve neural decompression and spinal stability through a posterior route. Objective: To assess the clinical, functional, and radiological results of TLIF in degenerative lumbar pathologies at a tertiary care centre in South India. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 20 patients who underwent TLIF between June 2022 and January 2024. Functional recovery was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Short Form-12 (SF-12). Radiological analysis included fusion grading, disc height, and sagittal alignment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v29, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of patients was 45.7 years. There was significant improvement in ODI (61.2 → 14.1), VAS (6.6 → 1.6), and SF-12 (12.7 → 44.9) (p < 0.001). Fusion was complete or near complete in all cases, with a minor complication rate of 15%. Fusion Grade I–II achieved in 100% of patients Conclusion: TLIF provides excellent outcomes in terms of pain relief, function, and fusion, with minimal morbidity. It remains a dependable option for degenerative lumbar conditions in Indian tertiary care practice.