Segmental ("floating") lumbar spine fusions.
A traditional teaching in orthopaedic surgery has been that, in cases of fusion for L4-5 discopathy or instability, one must include the lumbosacral joint. There is nothing in the literature to support this time-honored dictum. The senior author, among others, has rejected this concept; and, the authors are, therefore, in a position to present a 32-year experience with segmental or "floating" fusion. Two hundred six floating fusions were performed, of which 184 were available for follow-up. Of these, 83.7% achieved "Excellent" or "Good" results; 15.2% were rated "Fair"; and 2% were rated "Poor." Only five patients (2.7%) had subsequent disc herniation at the lumbosacral level necessitating discectomy and extension of fusion to incorporate the sacrum.
Brodsky
A E
AE
Texas Institute for Spinal Disorders, Houston.
Hendricks
R L
RL
Khalil
M A
MA
Darden
B V
BV
Brotzman
T T
TT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors