[Posterior fusion versus posterior interbody fusion in segmental spinal fixation for aged spondylolisthesis].
OBJECTIVE
Clinical and radiographic results in 30 consecutive patients undergoing posterior lumbar fixation and posterior facet joint or posterior interbody fusion for Meyerding Grade II/III spondylolisthesis were assessed: (1) to address the suitability of a dynamic stabilization; and (2) to investigate whether there are differences in terms of clinical and functional results between these two types of arthrodesis.


METHODS
Fourteen patients underwent posterior interface fusion (PLF) and implantation of TSRH-3D system. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and placement of the same system were performed in 16 patients. Clinical, economic, functional and radiographic data were recorded both pre- and postoperatively.


RESULTS
The average changes in Prolo Scale of economic and functional scores were 1.25 and 1.64 respectively, in patients undergoing posterior fusion; the average measured vertebral slippage was 48.6% (range 32%-65%) preoperatively and 17.5% (range 15%-25%) postoperatively. In patients undergoing PLIF, the average changes in economic and functional score were 1.18 and 1.39 respectively, and the average preoperative vertebral slippage was 44.2% (range 30%-55%) versus 20.3% (range 18%-26%) postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a segmental pedicle screw fixation with TSRH-3D was able to successfully combine the goal of solid fusion with the requirements of nerve root decompression. When these two fusion techniques were compared, PLIF was superior to PLF because of an overall superior reliability and system resistance. But their clinical outcomes did not differ greatly (P > 0.05).
Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated First Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
Qing-Hua
QH
Zhao
Ji-Wei
JW
Tian
Lei
L
Wang
Shuang-Hai
SH
Dong
Zhen-Kai
ZK
Wu
Zhen
Z
Wang
Lian-Shun
LS
Jia
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome