title: Anterior and combined anteroposterior fusion for lumbar disc pain. A preliminary study.
abstract: This article reports on a study of 51 consecutive patients (83 lumbar discs) with back pain who underwent anterior interbody lumbar fusion or combined anterior and posterior fusion at the same operation during a 2-year period. All patients met the criteria for diagnosis of a painful internal disc disruption and/or failed back syndrome and have had a lengthy trial of conservative treatment consisting of rest, physical therapy, back support, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, and guarded activity; this treatment was often supplemented by epidural cortisone injections, pain management, and functional rehabilitation. Patients with prolonged back pain who failed with conservative care after a minimum of 12 months of severely disabling symptoms were selected for surgery on the basis of a positive dynamic discogram reproducing their exact pain and demonstrating a morphologically degenerative disc (internal disc disruption). For the purpose of this study, patients were categorized into three groups and followed up for 15-36 months after the operation. There were no deaths or major complications, and the overall success in achieving measurable diminution of preoperative pain was 80%. This article discusses preliminary conclusions on the efficacy and safety on anterior and anteroposterior fusion for lumbar disc pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Linson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*