scholarly journals Mid-range outcomes in 64 consecutive cases of multilevel fusion for degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Röllinghoff ◽  
Klaus Schlüter-Brust ◽  
Daniel Groos ◽  
Rolf Sobottke ◽  
Joern William-Patrick Michael ◽  
...  

In the treatment of multilevel degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine, spondylodesis plays a controversial role. Most patients can be treated conservatively with success. Multilevel lumbar fusion with instrumentation is associated with severe complications like failed back surgery syndrome, implant failure, and adjacent segment disease (ASD). This retrospective study examines the records of 70 elderly patients with degenerative changes or instability of the lumbar spine treated between 2002 and 2007 with spondylodesis of more than two segments. Sixty-four patients were included; 5 patients had died and one patient was lost to follow-up. We evaluated complications, clinical/radiological outcomes, and success of fusion. Flexion-extension and standing X-rays in two planes, MRI, and/or CT scans were obtained pre-operatively. Patients were assessed clinically using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Surgery performed was dorsolateral fusion (46.9%) or dorsal fusion with anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF; 53.1%). Additional decompression was carried out in 37.5% of patients. Mean follow-up was 29.4±5.4 months. Average patient age was 64.7±4.3 years. Clinical outcomes were not satisfactory for all patients. VAS scores improved from 8.6±1.3 to 5.6±3.0 pre- to post-operatively, without statistical significance. ODI was also not significantly improved (56.1±22.3 pre- and 45.1±26.4 post-operatively). Successful fusion, defined as adequate bone mass with trabeculation at the facets and transverse processes or in the intervertebral segments, did not correlate with good clinical outcomes. Thirty-five of 64 patients (54%) showed signs of pedicle screw loosening, especially of the screws at S1. However, only 7 of these 35 (20%) complained of corresponding back pain. Revision surgery was required in 24 of 64 patients (38%). Of these, indications were adjacent segment disease (16 cases), pedicle screw loosening (7 cases), and infection (one case). At follow-up of 29.4 months, patients with radiographic ASD had worse ODI scores than patients without (54.7 vs. 36.6; P less than 0.001). Multilevel fusion for degenerative disease still has a high rate of complications, up to 50%. The problem of adjacent segment disease after fusion surgery has not yet been solved. This study underscores the need for strict indication guidelines to perform lumbar spine fusion of more than two levels.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziyang Liang ◽  
Jianchao Cui ◽  
Jiarui Zhang ◽  
Jiahui He ◽  
Jingjing Tang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a well-known complication after interbody fusion. Pedicle screw-rod revision possessed sufficient strength and rigidity. However, is a surgical segment with rigid fixation necessary for ASD reoperation? This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical effect on LLIF with different instrumentation for ASD treatment.Methods: A validated L2~5 finite element (FE) model was modified to simulate. ASD was considered the level cranial to the upper-instrumented segment(L3/4). Bonegraft fusion in LLIF with bilateral pedicle screw fixation (BPS) has occurred at the L4/5. The ASD segment for each group was underwent a) LLIF + posterior extension of BPS, b) PLIF + posterior extension of BPS, c) LLIF + lateral screw, d) Stand-alone LLIF. L3/4 Range of motion (ROM), interbody cage stress and strain, screw-boneinterface stress, cage-endplate interface stress, and L2/3 nucleus pulposus of intradiscal pressure (NP-IDP) analysis were calculated for the comparisons among fourmodels.Results: All reconstructive models displayed decreased motion at L3/4. In each loading condition, difference was not significant between model a and b, which providedthe maximum ROM reduction (73.8% to 97.7%, 68.3% to 98.4%, respectively). Model c also provided a significant ROM reduction (64.9% to 77.5%). Model d provided a minimal restriction of ROM (18.3% to 90.1%), which exceeded that of model a by 13.1 times in flexion-extension, 10.3 times in lateral bending and 4.8 times in rotation. Model b generated greater cage stress than other models, particularly in flexion. The maximum displacement of the cage and the peak stress of cage-endplate interface were found to be the highest in the model d in all loading conditions. For the screw bone interface, the stress was significantly greater in lateral instrumentation than that of posterior instrumentation.Conclusions: Stand-alone LLIF is likely to have limited stability, particularly in lateral bending and axial rotation. Posterior extension of BPS can provide the reliablystability and excellently protective effect on instrumentation and endplate. However, LLIF with in situ screw may be an alternative for ASD reoperation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. S96-S97
Author(s):  
Joel Boerckel ◽  
Liz Peters ◽  
Lalissie Merga ◽  
Tamkeenat Syed ◽  
Mona Arabshahi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Wang ◽  
Longjie Wang ◽  
Zhuoran Sun ◽  
Shuai Jiang ◽  
Weishi Li

Abstract BackgroundThe aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of distal pedicle screw loosening (DPSL) following posterior decompression and instrumented fusion for DLS, to search for predictable risk factors for DPSL, and hope to provide references in decision making and surgical planning for spine surgeons. MethodsOne hundred and fifty-three consecutive DLS patients surgically treated between January 2013 and July 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnostic criteria for DPSL developed by X-ray include the radiolucent area (thicker than 1 mm) around screw and the “double halo” sign defined as the presence of radiolucent area and radiopaque rim at the same X-ray. According to the occurrence of DPSL at two-year follow-up, patients were divided into two groups: study group (screw loosening) and control group (without screw loosening). To investigate predictive factors for distal pedicle screw loosening, three categorized factors were analyzed statistically.ResultsDPSL was detected in 72 of 153 patients (47.1%) at two-year follow up, and were enrolled as study group. Another 81 patients presented no screw loosening at two-year follow up, and were enrolled as control group. Hounsfield unit (HU) value was lower in study group than that in control group. Fusion level was longer in study group than that in control group. Lower instrumented vertebrae on L5 was less in study group than that in control group. Posterolateral fusion was less in study group than that in control group. Preoperative Cobb angle, postoperative Cobb angle, Cobb angle correction, preoperative lumbosacral coronal angle (LSCA), LSCA correction, preoperative thoracolumbar junction (TL), postoperative TL were larger in study group than those in control group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that low Bone mineral density (BMD) (<169 HU), posterolateral fusion, Cobb angle correction (>16 degrees), LSCA correction (>9 degrees) were independently associated with DPSL.ConclusionsThe incidence of DPSL following posterior decompression and instrumented fusion for DLS is 47.1%. Low BMD, large correction of both main curve and fractional curve are predictive factors for DPSL, while posterolateral fusion is a protective factor.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-405
Author(s):  
Yi-Hsuan Kuo ◽  
Chao-Hung Kuo ◽  
Hsuan-Kan Chang ◽  
Tsung-Hsi Tu ◽  
Li-Yu Fay ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVECigarette smoking has been known to increase the risk of pseudarthrosis in spinal fusion. However, there is a paucity of data on the effects of smoking in dynamic stabilization following lumbar spine surgery. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and the incidence of screw loosening among patients who smoked.METHODSConsecutive patients who had lumbar spondylosis, recurrent disc herniations, or low-grade spondylolisthesis that was treated with 1- or 2-level surgical decompression and pedicle screw–based Dynesys dynamic stabilization (DDS) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who did not complete the minimum 2 years of radiological and clinical evaluations were excluded. All screw loosening was determined by both radiographs and CT scans. Patient-reported outcomes, including visual analog scale (VAS) scores of back and leg pain, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), were analyzed. Patients were grouped by smoking versus nonsmoking, and loosening versus intact screws, respectively. All radiological and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups.RESULTSA total of 306 patients (140 women), with a mean age of 60.2 ± 12.5 years, were analyzed during an average follow-up of 44 months. There were 34 smokers (9 women) and 272 nonsmokers (131 women, 48.2% more than the 26.5% of smokers, p = 0.017). Postoperatively, all the clinical outcomes improved (e.g., VAS back and leg pain, JOA scores, and ODI, all p < 0.001). The overall rate of screw loosening was 23.2% (71 patients), and patients who had loosened screws were older (61.7 ± 9.6 years vs 59.8 ± 13.2 years, p = 0.003) and had higher rates of diabetes mellitus (33.8% vs 21.7%, p = 0.038) than those who had intact DDS screws. Although the patients who smoked had similar clinical improvement (even better VAS scores in their legs, p = 0.038) and a nonsignificantly lower rate of screw loosening (17.7% and 23.9%, p = 0.416), the chances of secondary surgery for adjacent segment disease (ASD) were higher than for the nonsmokers (11.8% vs 1.5%, p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSSmoking had no adverse effects on the improvements of clinical outcomes in the pedicle screw–based DDS surgery. For smokers, the rate of screw loosening trended lower (without significance), but the chances of secondary surgery for ASD were higher than for the nonsmoking patients. However, the optimal surgical strategy to stabilize the lumbar spine of smoking patients requires future investigation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu-Ping Zhou ◽  
Ren-Jie Zhang ◽  
Lai Zhang ◽  
Jing-Yu Ding ◽  
Cailiang Shen

Abstract ObjectiveDynesys stabilization (DS) is utilized to preserve mobility at the instrumental segments and prevent adjacent segment pathology (ASP) in clinical practice. However, the advantages of DS method remain controversial. This meta-analysis was to compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes between DS and instrumented fusion in patients with or without grade I spondylolisthesis at a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for potentially eligible articles. Clinical outcomes were assessed in terms of surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, in-hospital complications, VAS and ODI scores, screw loosening and breakage, and reoperation. Radiographic outcomes were assessed in terms of postoperative range of movement (ROM) and disc heigh. Moreover, adjacent segment degeneration (ASDeg) and adjacent segment disease (ASDis) were evaluated. Data are expressed as risk ratio or standardized mean difference with the associated 95% confidence intervals. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 and STATA 15.1 software.ResultsFourteen studies with 1078 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The mean durations of follow-up ranged from 26.64 ± 5.16 months to 93.6 ± 16.5 months. The DS group was associated with significantly shorter surgical time, fewer intraoperative blood loss, shorter length of hospital stay, less in-hospital complications, lower postoperative VAS scores for low-back and leg pain than the fusion group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the ROM at the stabilized segments of the fusion group decreased significantly (P < 0.01) and that at the adjacent segments increased significantly compared with those of the Dynesys group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the Dynesys group showed significantly less ASDeg than the fusion group (P < 0.01) but showed no significant advantage over the fusion group in terms of preventing ASDis (P = 0.33). Furthermore, the Dynesys group was insignificantly different from the fusion group in terms of ODI, screw loosening, screw breakage, surgical reoperation, and disc heigh at stabilized and adjacent segments (P > 0.05).ConclusionDynesys stabilization showed satisfactory clinical outcomes and provided additional benefits in preserving the motion at the stabilized segments and limiting the hypermobility at the adjacent segments compared with fusion method. Dynesys stabilization represented a complementary choice in the treatment of degenerative spinal lumbar disease with or without grade I spondylolisthesis.


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4S-5S
Author(s):  
Kyeong Hwan Kim ◽  
Sang-Ho Lee ◽  
Ho-Yeon Lee ◽  
Chan Shik Shim ◽  
Dong Yeob Lee ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cédric Barrey ◽  
Gilles Perrin ◽  
Sabina Champain

Dynamic systems in the lumbar spine are believed to reduce main fusion drawbacks such as pseudarthrosis, bone rarefaction, and mechanical failure. Compared to fusion achieved with rigid constructs, biomechanical studies underlined some advantages of dynamic instrumentation including increased load sharing between the instrumentation and interbody bone graft and stresses reduction at bone-to-screw interface. These advantages may result in increased fusion rates, limitation of bone rarefaction, and reduction of mechanical complications with the ultimate objective to reduce reoperations rates. However published clinical evidence for dynamic systems remains limited. In addition to providing biomechanical evaluation of a pedicle-screw-based dynamic system, the present study offers a long-term (average 10.2 years) insight view of the clinical outcomes of 18 patients treated by fusion with dynamic systems for degenerative lumbar spine diseases. The findings outline significant and stable symptoms relief, absence of implant-related complications, no revision surgery, and few adjacent segment degenerative changes. In spite of sample limitations, this is the first long-term report of outcomes of dynamic fusion that opens an interesting perspective for clinical outcomes of dynamic systems that need to be explored at larger scale.


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