scholarly journals Dynamic stabilization for degenerative diseases in the lumbar spine: 2 years results

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Hosny Khalifa ◽  
Timo Stübig ◽  
Oliver Meier ◽  
Christian Walter Müller

Following lumbar fusion, adjacent segment degeneration has been frequently reported. Dynamic systems are believed to reduce main fusion drawbacks. We conducted a retrospective study on patients with degenerative lumbar disease treated with posterior dynamic stabilization with monoaxial hinged pedicular screws and lumbar decompression. VAS and ODI were used to compare clinical outcomes. As radiological outcomes, LL and SVA were used. 51 patients were included with an average follow-up of 24 months. 13 patients were revised because of postoperative radiculopathy (n=4), subcutaneous hematoma(n=2), L5 screw malposition (n=1) and adjacent segment disease (n=6). The mean ODI score 41 preoperatively compared to 36 postoperatively. The mean VAS scores for back and leg pain were 5.3 and 4.2, respectively compared to 4.5 and 4.0 post-operatively. The mean SVA was 5.3 cm pre-operatively, and 5.7 cm postoperatively. The mean LL was 47.5° preoperatively and 45.5° postoperatively. From our data, whichfail to show significant improvements andreflect a high revision rate, we cannot generally recommend dynamic stabilization as an alternative to fusion. Comparative trials with longer follow-ups are required.

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Yu Fay ◽  
Wen-Cheng Huang ◽  
Chih-Chang Chang ◽  
Hsuan-Kan Chang ◽  
Tzu-Yun Tsai ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe pedicle screw–based Dynesys dynamic stabilization (DDS) has reportedly become a surgical option for lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis. However, it is still unclear whether the dynamic construct remains mobile or eventually fuses. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of unintended facet arthrodesis after DDS and its association with spondylolisthesis.METHODSThis retrospective study was designed to review 105 consecutive patients with 1- or 2-level lumbar spondylosis who were treated with DDS surgery. The patients were then divided into 2 groups according to preexisting spondylolisthesis or not. All patients underwent laminectomies, foraminotomies, and DDS. The clinical outcomes were measured using visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores. All medical records, including pre- and postoperative radiographs, CT scans, and MR images, were also reviewed and compared.RESULTSA total of 96 patients who completed the postoperative follow-up for more than 30 months were analyzed. The mean age was 64.1 ± 12.9 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 46.3 ± 12.0 months. There were 45 patients in the spondylolisthesis group and 51 patients in the nonspondylolisthesis group. The overall prevalence rate of unintended facet fusion was 52.1% in the series of DDS. Patients with spondylolisthesis were older (67.8 vs 60.8 years, p = 0.007) and had a higher incidence rate of facet arthrodesis (75.6% vs 31.4%, p < 0.001) than patients without spondylolisthesis. Patients who had spondylolisthesis or were older than 65 years were more likely to have facet arthrodesis (OR 6.76 and 4.82, respectively). There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes, including VAS back and leg pain, ODI, and JOA scores between the 2 groups. Furthermore, regardless of whether or not unintended facet arthrodesis occurred, all patients experienced significant improvement (all p < 0.05) in the clinical evaluations.CONCLUSIONSDuring the mean follow-up of almost 4 years, the prevalence of unintended facet arthrodesis was 52.1% in patients who underwent DDS. Although the clinical outcomes were not affected, elderly patients with spondylolisthesis might have a greater chance of facet fusion. This could be a cause of the limited range of motion at the index levels long after DDS.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. E5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazem Mashaly ◽  
Erin E. Paschel ◽  
Nicolas K. Khattar ◽  
Ezequiel Goldschmidt ◽  
Peter C. Gerszten

OBJECTIVE The development of symptomatic adjacent-segment disease (ASD) is a well-recognized consequence of lumbar fusion surgery. Extension of a fusion to a diseased segment may only lead to subsequent adjacent-segment degeneration. The authors report the use of a novel technique that uses dynamic stabilization instead of arthrodesis for the surgical treatment of symptomatic ASD following a prior lumbar instrumented fusion. METHODS A cohort of 28 consecutive patients was evaluated who developed symptomatic stenosis immediately adjacent to a previous lumbar instrumented fusion. All patients had symptoms of neurogenic claudication refractory to nonsurgical treatment and were surgically treated with decompression and dynamic stabilization instead of extending the fusion construct using a posterior lumbar dynamic stabilization system. Preoperative symptoms, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and perioperative complications were recorded. Clinical outcome was gauged by comparing VAS scores prior to surgery and at the time of last follow-up. RESULTS The mean follow-up duration was 52 months (range 17–94 months). The mean interval from the time of primary fusion surgery to the dynamic stabilization surgery was 40 months (range 10–96 months). The mean patient age was 51 years (range 29–76 years). There were 19 (68%) men and 9 (32%) women. Twenty-three patients (82%) presented with low-back pain at time of surgery, whereas 24 patients (86%) presented with lower-extremity symptoms only. Twenty-four patients (86%) underwent operations that were performed using single-level dynamic stabilization, 3 patients (11%) were treated at 2 levels, and 1 patient underwent 3-level decompression and dynamic stabilization. The most commonly affected and treated level (46%) was L3–4. The mean preoperative VAS pain score was 8, whereas the mean postoperative score was 3. No patient required surgery for symptomatic degeneration rostral to the level of dynamic stabilization during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS The use of posterior lumbar dynamic stabilization may offer a valid and safe option for the management of patients who develop ASD rostral to a previously instrumented arthrodesis. The technique may serve as an alternative to multilevel arthrodesis in this patient population. By implanting a dynamic stabilization device instead of an extension of a rigid construct, this might translate into a reduction in the development of yet another level of ASD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (02) ◽  
pp. 163-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Soo Eun ◽  
Sang-Ho Lee ◽  
H. Erken

Background and Study Aims Although transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar diskectomy (PELD) offers certain advantages in the treatment of disk herniations, it used to be limited to nonmigrated or low-migrated herniations. With improvements in endoscopic spinal surgery, the range of indications for PELD has expanded. Various techniques including transforaminal and interlaminar approaches for migrated disk herniations are described in the literature. This study describes a transforaminal PELD approach to address downmigrated intracanal soft disk herniations effectively using the lever-up, rotate, and tilt technique. Patients and Methods We performed a retrospective review of 18 patients who had been operated on with the described technique between October 2012 and December 2015. We assessed clinical outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) preoperatively at their respective clinical visits and postoperatively at the patients' final follow-up examinations. Results The mean preoperative VAS scores for back and leg pain were 3.75 + 1.34 (range: 2–6) and 8.3 + 0.6 (range: 8–10), respectively. The mean preoperative ODI was 67.3 + 15.3 (range: 48–90). The mean VAS scores for back and leg pain improved to 1.38 + 1.58 (range: 0–6) and 1.19 + 0.75 (range: 0–3), respectively, at the last follow-up. The mean ODI also improved to 14.1 + 6.2 (range: 8–30) at the last follow-up. All differences between the preoperative and last follow-up scores were statistically significant (p < 0.05), Two surgeries failed because of a remnant disk fragment. Conclusions The lever-up, rotate, and tilt technique for transforaminal PELD is an effective maneuver to treat downmigrated disk herniations in selected patients by experienced surgeons.


Tomography ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 855-865
Author(s):  
Po-Kuan Wu ◽  
Meng-Huang Wu ◽  
Cheng-Min Shih ◽  
Yen-Kuang Lin ◽  
Kun-Hui Chen ◽  
...  

This research compared the incidence of adjacent segment pathology (ASP) between anterior interbody lumbar fusion (ALIF) treatment and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) treatment. Seventy patients were included in this retrospective study: 30 patients received ALIF treatment, and 40 patients received TLIF treatment at a single medical center between 2011 and 2020 with a follow-up of at least 12 months. The outcomes were radiographic adjacent segment pathology (RASP) and clinical adjacent segment pathology (CASP). The mean follow-up period was 42.10 ± 22.61 months in the ALIF group and 56.20 ± 29.91 months in the TLIF group. Following single-level lumbosacral fusion, ALIF is superior to TLIF in maintaining lumbar lordosis, whereas the risk of adjacent instability in the ALIF group is significantly higher. Regarding ASP, the incidence of overall RASP and CASP did not differ significantly between ALIF and TLIF groups.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haichun Liu ◽  
Wenliang Wu ◽  
Yi Li ◽  
Jinwei Liu ◽  
Kaiyun Yang ◽  
...  

Object During the past decades, lumbar fusion has increasingly become a standard treatment for degenerative spinal disorders. However, it has also been associated with an increased incidence of adjacent-segment degeneration (ASD). Previous studies have reported less ASD in anterior fusion surgeries; thus, the authors hypothesized that the integrity of the posterior complex plays an important role in ASD. This study was designed to investigate the effect of the posterior complex on adjacent instability after lumbar instrumentation and the development of ASD. Methods To evaluate different surgical interventions, 120 patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups of 40 patients each who were statistically similar with respect to demographic and clinical data. Patients in Group A were allocated for facet joint resection and L4–5 fusion, Group B for semilaminectomy and fusion, and Group C for complete laminectomy and fusion. All of the patients were followed up for 5–7 years (mean 5.9 years). The disc height, intervertebral disc angle, dynamic intervertebral angular range of motion (ROM), L3–4 slip, and the total lordosis angle were each measured before the operation and at the final follow-up. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was determined before surgery and at the final follow-up to evaluate the clinical results. Results Among the 3 groups, no significant differences were detected in all clinical and demographic assessments before surgery. At 3 months after surgery, the JOA score of all groups improved significantly and showed no significant differences among the groups. At the final follow-up, Group C had a significantly (p < 0.05) lower JOA score than the other 2 groups. Moreover, the disc height and total lumbar lordosis in patients of Group C were significantly decreased compared with disc height and total lumbar lordosis in the other 2 groups. In contrast, disc angle, dynamic angular ROM, and listhesis were significantly higher in Group C than in the other 2 groups. Twenty-four patients showed signs of ASD after the operation (3 patients in Group A, 4 in B, and 17 in C). The number of patients in Group C showing ASD was significantly different from that in Groups A and B. Conclusions During follow-up for 6 years, a significantly higher number of patients with ASD were noted in the complete-laminectomy group. The number of reoperations for treating ASD was much higher in this patient group than in the patients undergoing facet joint resection and L4–5 fusion or semilaminectomy and fusion. Therefore, preserving the posterior complex as much as possible during surgery plays an important role in preventing ASD and in reducing the reoperation rate.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhijun Xin ◽  
Wenbo Liao ◽  
Jun Ao ◽  
Jianpu Qin ◽  
Fang Chen ◽  
...  

Objective is to describe a safe and effective percutaneous endoscopic approach for removal of highly migrated and sequestrated disc herniations of the upper lumbar spine and to report the results, surgical indications, and technical considerations of the new technique. Eleven patients who had highly migrated and sequestrated disc herniations in the upper lumbar were included in this study. A retrospective study was performed for all patients after translaminar osseous channel-assisted PELD was performed. Radiologic findings were investigated, and pre-and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) assessments for back and leg pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI) evaluations were performed. Surgical outcomes were evaluated under modified MacNab criteria. All of the patients were followed for more than 1 year. The preoperative and postoperative radiologic findings revealed that the decompression of the herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) was complete. After surgery, the mean VAS scores for back and leg pain immediately improved from 8.64 (range, 7–10) and 8.00 (range, 6–10) to 2.91 (range, 2–4) and 2.27 (range, 1–3), respectively. The mean preoperative ODI was 65.58 (range, 52.2–86), which decreased to 7.51 (range, 1.8–18) at the 12-month postoperative follow-up. The MacNab scores at the final follow-up included nine excellent, one good, and one fair. The modified translaminar osseous channel-assisted PELD could be a safe and effective option for the treatment of highly migrated and sequestrated disc herniations of the upper lumbar.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping-Yeh Chiu ◽  
Fu-Cheng Kao ◽  
Wen-Jer Chen ◽  
Chia-Wei Yu ◽  
Chi-Chien Niu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We investigated whether spinopelvic parameters are important prognostic factors causing adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after long instrumented spinal fusion for degenerative spinal disease. Methods This uncontrolled, randomized, single arm retrospective study included patients who underwent long instrumented lumbar fusion (fusion levels≥ 4) in the past 5 years with follow-up for at least 2 years. The inclusion criteria included adult patients (≥40 years of age) with a diagnosis of spinal degeneration who underwent instrumented corrective surgery. The exclusion criteria included preexisting adjacent disc degeneration, combined anterior reconstructive surgery, and distal ASD. Clinical and operative characters were evaluated. Angle of lumbar lordosis (LLA), sacral slope (SSA), pelvic tilt (PTA) and pelvic incidence (PIA) were compared preoperatively, postoperatively and at the final follow-up. Results From 2009 to 2014, 60 patients (30 ASD and 30 non-ASD) were enrolled. The average age was 66.82 ± 7.48 years for the study group and 67.97 ± 7.81 years for the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in clinical and operative characteristics. Among all spinopelvic parameters, only pre-, post-operative and final follow-up PIA in ASD group (53.9±10.4゚, 54.6±14.0゚, 54.3±14.1゚) and non-ASD group (60.3±13.0゚, 61.8±11.3゚, 62.5±11.2゚) showed statistically significant differences ( p <0.05). Conclusion This study confirms that preoperative, postoperative and final follow-up PIA is a significant factor contributing to the development of ASD after long instrumented spinal fusion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arvind G. Kulkarni ◽  
Shashidhar Bangalore Kantharajanna ◽  
Abhilash N. Dhruv

<sec><title>Study Design</title><p>Retrospective case series.</p></sec><sec><title>Purpose</title><p>To compare minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) outcomes in primary and revision surgeries.</p></sec><sec><title>Overview of Literature</title><p>Revision spinal fusion is often associated with an increased risk of approach-related complications. Patients can potentially benefit from the decreased approach-related morbidity associated with MI-TLIF.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Sixty consecutive MI-TLIF patients (20 failed back [Fa group], 40 primary [Pr group]) who underwent surgery between January 2011 and May 2012 were reviewed after Institutional Review Board approval to compare operative times, blood loss, complications, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain before surgery and at the last follow-up.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Nineteen revision surgeries were compared with 36 primary surgeries. One failed back and four primary patients were excluded because of inadequate data. The mean follow-up times were 28 months and 24 months in the Pr and Fa groups, respectively. The mean pre- and postoperative ODI scores were 53.18 and 20.23 in the Pr group and 52.01 and 25.72 in the Fa group, respectively (ODI percentage change: Pr group, 60.36%±29.73%; Fa group, 69.32%±13.72%; <italic>p</italic>=0.304, not significant). The mean pre- and postoperative VAS scores for back pain were 4.77 and 1.75 in the Pr group and 4.1 and 2.0 in the Fa group, respectively, and the percentage changes were statistically significant (VAS back pain percentage change: Pr group, 48.78±30.91; Fa group, 69.32±13.72; <italic>p</italic>=0.027). The mean pre- and postoperative VAS scores for leg pain were 6.52 and 1.27 in the Pr group and 9.5 and 1.375 in the Fa group, respectively (VAS leg pain percentage change: Pr group, 81.07±29.39; Fa group, 75.72±15.26; <italic>p</italic>=0.538, not significant). There were no statistically significant differences in operative time and estimated blood loss and no complications.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>MI-TLIF outcomes were comparable between primary and revision surgeries. The inherent technique of MI-TLIF is particularly suitable for select failed backs because it exploits the intact paramedian corridor.</p></sec>


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Hung Kuo ◽  
Wen-Cheng Huang ◽  
Jau-Ching Wu ◽  
Tsung-Hsi Tu ◽  
Li-Yu Fay ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEPedicle screw–based dynamic stabilization has been an alternative to conventional lumbar fusion for the surgical management of low-grade spondylolisthesis. However, the true effect of dynamic stabilization on adjacent-segment degeneration (ASD) remains undetermined. Authors of this study aimed to investigate the incidence of ASD and to compare the clinical outcomes of dynamic stabilization and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF).METHODSThe records of consecutive patients with Meyerding grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis who had undergone surgical management at L4–5 in the period from 2007 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgery performed: Dynesys dynamic stabilization (DDS) group and MI-TLIF group. Pre- and postoperative radiological evaluations, including radiography, CT, and MRI studies, were compared. Adjacent discs were evaluated using 4 radiological parameters: instability (antero- or retrolisthesis), disc degeneration (Pfirrmann classification), endplate degeneration (Modic classification), and range of motion (ROM). Clinical outcomes, measured with the visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, were also compared.RESULTSA total of 79 patients with L4–5 degenerative spondylolisthesis were included in the analysis. During a mean follow-up of 35.2 months (range 24–89 months), there were 56 patients in the DDS group and 23 in the MI-TLIF group. Prior to surgery, both groups were very similar in demographic, radiological, and clinical data. Postoperation, both groups had similarly significant improvement in clinical outcomes (VAS, ODI, and JOA scores) at each time point of evaluation. There was a lower chance of disc degeneration (Pfirrmann classification) of the adjacent discs in the DDS group than in the MI-TLIF group (17% vs 37%, p = 0.01). However, the DDS and MI-TLIF groups had similar rates of instability (15.2% vs 17.4%, respectively, p = 0.92) and endplate degeneration (1.8% vs 6.5%, p = 0.30) at the cranial (L3–4) and caudal (L5–S1) adjacent levels after surgery. The mean ROM in the cranial and caudal levels was also similar in the two groups. None of the patients required secondary surgery for any ASD (defined by radiological criteria).CONCLUSIONSThe clinical improvements after DDS were similar to those following MI-TLIF for L4–5 Meyerding grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis at 3 years postoperation. According to radiological evaluations, there was a lower chance of disc degeneration in the adjacent levels of the patients who had undergone DDS. However, other radiological signs of ASD, including instability, endplate degeneration, and ROM, were similar between the two groups. Although none of the patients in the present series required secondary surgery, a longer follow-up and a larger number of patients would be necessary to corroborate the protective effect of DDS against ASD.


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