title: Spinal fusion for back pain: a clinical and radiological review.
abstract: Eighty-one patients who had spinal fusions performed for back pain over a 7-year period were reviewed; 74% were satisfied with the outcome of their surgery, mainly because of the degree of pain relief obtained. Based on lateral radiographs of the fusion area in flexion and extension, there was a 34% pseudarthrosis rate in first-time fusions. However, there was no clear relationship between the integrity of fusion and clinical success, indicating that many factors other than bony fusion influence the eventual outcome of the operation.
authors.affiliation: St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Finglas, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Beirne
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002420:Cauda Equina; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome