[PLIF and ALIF for the degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to compare the course of disease of patients with a degenerative instability of the lumbar spine after PLIF or ALIF.


METHODS
Between October 1995 and January 2000 115 patients underwent a ventral or dorsal spondylodesis due to a degenerative instability in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin Hospital and in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Friedrichshain Hospital in Berlin. At an average of 25 (13-64) months after surgery these patients were followed up in a clinical examination and a questionnaire concerning their sense of pain and quality of life.


RESULTS
Significant improvement after surgery has been shown in both groups. The recovery rate was 52 % which is a beneficial result. The fusion rate was 91 %. The postoperative sense of pain declined with regard to the visual pain scale. The intake of analgetics decreased in a quantitative as well as in a qualitative way. With 94 % the acceptance of the operation was comparatively high. The number of complications was low in comparison with the literature (4 %). There was no operative lethality.


CONCLUSIONS
With regard to the indications and contraindications the PLIF as well as the ALIF is accepted unquestioningly as an up-to-date method.
Lemcke
J
J
Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Germany.
Klötzer
S
S
Klötzer
R
R
Meier
U
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery*