[Anterior lumbar interbody fusion for treatment of failed back surgery syndrome: a retrospective study of 46 cases].
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 following lumbar discectomy in a noncontrolled retrospective cohort.


METHODS
From 1st January to 31 December 2005, we performed an ALIF in 46 patients presenting with low back pain with or without radiculopathy. All patients had a history of intractable pain resistant to conventional medical treatment and failed posterior lumbar surgery. Clinical and radiological outcomes were recorded. Neurological pain and functional outcomes were measured postoperatively (at 1, 3 and 12 months). Operative data, intraoperative complications, and the fusion rate were recorded.


RESULTS
Forty-six patients with a preoperative diagnosis of failed back surgery syndrome underwent ALIF. The mean follow-up was 21 months. Back pain and leg pain completely disappeared in 60.9% of patients, decreased but required occasional medication in 28.3%, and 10.8% declared no benefit from ALIF surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of our results, we found ALIF to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of failed back surgery syndrome.
Simon
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Service de neurochirurgie, pôle neurolocomoteur, hôpital Cavale-Blanche, centre hospitalier universitaire de Brest, boulevard Tanguy-Prigent, 29609 Brest, France. alexandre.simon@chu-brest.fr
Seizeur
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R
Person
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Forlodou
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Dam Hieu
P
P
Besson
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G
D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D017211:Treatment Failure