title: [Indication and surgical methods of lumbosacral spinal fusion for lumbal degenerative diseases].
abstract: In degenerative lumbar spinal diseases with low back pain and leg pain, the indications for lumbar spinal fusion are not clear. It is unclear for the following reasons. The definition of instability is not clear. And it is also difficult to observe the exact source of the low back pain. In addition, there are limited numbers of randomized prospective study about the usefulness of spine fusion. Controversy still exists for when spinal instrumentation should be used. A spinal surgeon performs a posterolateral fusion or a posterior interbody fusion with or without instrumentation, mainly based on his experience and belief.
authors.affiliation: Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Surgery.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kunogi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*