Title: Evaluation of Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Disorders by Posterior Interbody Fusion Using Single Cage

Authors: Walid El Nawawy, Mohamed Aly, Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, Ahmed M. Bassiony Ismail, Bishoy Bessada, Amr Eltorky, Ramy Shehata, Mohamed S. A. A. Hamed, Alaa El Banna, Aly Salama

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i6.108

Abstract

Background: Spinal stenosis is defined as narrowing in the spinal canal or neural foramina, and this can cause compression on the spinal cord, cauda equina or individual nerve roots. It may be congenital or acquired. The acquired one is much more common and can result from facet osteoarthritis, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, degenerative bulging disc or osteophyte formation.

Studies show that conservative management might be successful in 70-90% of patients.

Aim: The aim of this work was to assess the early results of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using single TLIF PEEK cage in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disorders.

Patients and Methods: This prospective study included 20 patients with lumber disc prolapse or lumbar spinal stenosis treated surgically with posterior lumber interbody fusion (PLIF) using single PEEK TLIF cage. Instability, post-laminectomy syndrome and cases with haematogenous infection were excluded from this study. All surgeries were performed at El-Hadara University Hospital, Alex, Egypt. Patients were followed up at for at least 6 months. Informed consent were taken from all patients. A single TLIF cage filled with local bone graft was inserted. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for back and leg pain.

Results: At the end of the follow up period, 8 patients (40%) had excellent results, resuming unrestricted activity, near complete relief of pain in the back, lower limbs or both. Ten patients (50%) had good results, resuming unrestricted activity, significant improvement in pain with only occasional discomfort in the back or lower limbs, necessitating non-narcotic medication. Two patients (10%) had fair results showing restriction of activities, some improvement but still had intermittent discomfort in the back and lower limbs, needing sometimes non-narcotic medication.

Conclusion: All cases after PLIF using single PEEK cage showed adequate fusion.

References

  • Buchowski JM. The Thoracic and Lumbar Degenerative Spine. In: Bridwell KH, Dewald RL, editors. The Textbook of Spinal Surgery. 3rd Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2011; 1(37):353.
  • Skyrme AD, Selmon GP, Apthorp L. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. In: Skyrme AD, Selmon GP, and Apthorp L, editors. Common Spinal Disorders explained. Remedica 2005; (7):47-8.
  • AN HS, Anderson PA, Haughton VM. Introduction Disc degeneration: summary. Spine 2004; 29:2677-8.
  • Kathryn K, Jacob M. Buchowski. Evaluation of Thoracic and Lumbar Radicular Pathology. Who Is a Surgical Candidate and
    Who Isn't. In: Bridwell KH, Dewald RL, editors. The Textbook of Spinal Surgery. 3rd Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2011; 1(39): 369.
  • Atlas SJ, keller RB, Chang  Y, Deyo RA, Singer DE. surgical and non surgical  management  of  sciatica secondary to lumbar disc herniation: five years outcome from the main  lumbar  spine study. Spine 2001; 26:1179-87.
  • Postacchini F. Lumbar disc herniation: A new equilibrium is needed between nonoperative and operative treatement Spine 2001; 26(6):648-52.
  • Truuumees E. Discogenic Low Back Pain. In: Devlin VJ, editor. Spine Secrets Plus. 2nd Maryland Heights, El Sevier Mosby 2011; 50:340-1.
  • Christopher R. Good, Timothy R. Kuklo: Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion/Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. In: Bridwell KH, Dewald RL, editors. The Textbook of Spinal Surgery. 3rd Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2011; 2(47):437.
  • Zhou J, Wang B, Dong J, Li X, Zhou X, Fang T, et al. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2011; 131:1239-45.
  • Leventhal MR. Spinal anatomy and surgical approaches. In: Crenshow AH, (ed). Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 8th ed. St. Louis, London, Toronto, Philadelphia: CV Mosby Co. 1998; Vol. 5: 3493-516.
  • Gray H. Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Running Press 1974; 34-226.
  • Netter FH, Hansen JT. Atlas of Human anatomy. 3rd ed. New York: Icon Learning Systems; 2003.
  • Cailliet R. Low back pain syndrome. Philadelphia: FA Davis Co 1981, 3-19.
  • Louis R. Topographical anatomy and operative approaches: Lumbar spine. In: Surgery of the spine: Surgical anatomy and operative approaches. 1st ed. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag 1983; 264-313.
  • Snell RS. Clinical anatomy for medical students. 2nd ed. Boston: Little brown Co 1981; 791-823.
  • Bogduk N, Macintosch JE. The applied anatomy of the thoraco-lumbar fascia. Spine 1984; 9: 164-70.
  • Vleeming A, Pool-Goudzwaard AL, Stoeckart R, Van Wingerden JP and Snijders CJ. The posterior layer of the thoraco-lumbar fascia: Its function in load transfer from spine to legs. Spine 1995; 20: 753-8
  • White AA, Panjabi MM. Physical properties and functional biomechanics of the spine. In: Clinical biomechanics of the spine. Philadelphia, Tronto: JB Lippincott Company 1978; 1-60
  • Last RJ. Anatomy: regional and applied. 6th ed. Churchill Livingstone 1978; 458-79.
  • Warwick R, Williams PL. Gray's anatomy. 35th ed. 1973, 240-5.
  • Dickson JH, Harrington PR, Erwin WD. Results of reduction and stabilization of the severely fractured thoracic and lumbar spine. J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 1978; 60A: 799-805.
  • Roy-Camille R, Saillant G, Mazel C. Internal fixation of the lumbar spine with pedicle screw plating. Clin Orthop 1986; 203: 7-17
  • Ebraheim NA, Xu R, Darwich M, Yeasting RA. Anatomic relations between the lumbar pedicle and adjacent neural structures. Spine 1997; 22: 2338-41.
  • Krenz J, Troup JDG. The structure of the pars interarticularis of the lower lumbar vertebrae and its relation to the aetiology of spondylolysis. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 1973; 55B: 735-41.
  • Vaccaro AR, Kepler CK, Rihn JA, Suzuki H, Ratliff JK, Harrop JS, et al. Anatomical relationships of the anterior blood vessels to the lower lumbar intervertebral discs: analysis based on magnetic resonance imaging of patients in the prone position. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2012;94(12):1088-94
  • MaMinn RMH, Hutchings RT. A color atlas of human anatomy. London: Wolfe Medical Publications 1977; 73-87.
  • Goethem JWM, Hauwe L, Parizel PM, SpringerLink . Spinal Imaging Diagnostic Imaging of the Spine and Spinal Cord. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg; 2007.
  • Xu R, Ebraheim NA, Douglas K, Yeasting RA. The projection of the lateral sacral mass on the outer table of the posterior ilium. Spine 1996; 21: 790-4.
  • Hedman TP, Fernie GR. Mechanical response of the lumbar spine to postural loads. Spine 1997; 22: 734-43.

Corresponding Author

Walid El Nawawy

Department of Orthopedics Surgery and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria