title: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion for treatment of failed back surgery syndrome: an outcome analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has gained popularity for the treatment of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. In this report, we present our experience with the ALIF procedure for treatment of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) in a noncontrolled prospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 2-year period, we treated patients diagnosed with FBSS with ALIF. Clinical and radiological outcomes were recorded in a prospective, nonrandomized, longitudinal manner. Neurological, pain, and functional outcomes were measured preoperatively and 12 months after surgery. Operative data, perioperative complications, and radiological and clinical outcomes were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients with a preoperative diagnosis of FBSS, with degenerative disc disease (n = 17), postsurgical spondylolisthesis (n = 13), or pseudarthrosis (n = 3), underwent ALIF. Back pain, leg pain, and functional status improved significantly, by 76% (P < 0.01), 80% (P < 0.01), and 67% (P < 0.01), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of our results, we found ALIF to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of FBSS for selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duggal
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendiondo
authors.forename: Heraldo R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Pares
authors.forename: Balraj S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Jhawar
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Kathy J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: Curtis A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dickman
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013577:Syndrome; D017211:Treatment Failure