[Treatment of degenerative lumbar spine instability with transpedical screw fixation and intertransverse process autogenous bone grafting].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the early clinical results with degenerative lumbar instability treated with transpedical screw fixation and intertransverse process autogenous bone grafting.


METHODS
From September 2000 to February 2002, 19 patients (5 males and 14 females) of degenerative lumbar spine instability were treated with decompression for spinal canal stenosis, transpedical screw fixation and intertransverse process autogenous bone grafting. The locations of degenerative lumbar spine instability were between L4 and L5 in 10 patients, between L3, L4 and L5 in 4 cases, between L3 and L4 in 3 cases, between L5 and S1 in 2 cases. The results were evaluated after operation. The preoperative clinical symptoms disappeared completely as excellent results, relieved obviously as good results, improved as fair results and unrelieved or worsened as poor results.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients were followed up for 4-18 months with an average of 8.1 months. The results of the treatment were excellent in 12 patients, good in 4 patients and fair in 1 patient. The excellent and good rate was 94.1%. Intertransverse process arthrodesis was obtained after 6 months of operation in all cases. No loosened and broken instruments occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The advantages of degenerative lumbar spine instability treated with transpedical screw fixation and intertransverse are reliable fixation, high successful rate of fusion and less influence on spinal canal. The above results show satisfactory clinical outcome.
Fang
Huang
H
Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China 430030.
Chen
An-min
AM
Luo
Yong-xiang
YX
D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine