Kidney-type intervertebral spacers should be located anteriorly in cantilever transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: analyses of risk factors for spacer subsidence for a minimum of 2 years.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis of factors related to kidney-type interbody spacer subsidence (SS) in transforaminal interbody fusion (TLIF).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the risk factors for SS in TLIF using kidney-type spacers.


BACKGROUND
SS into the vertebral body, a major complication of TLIF, has not been studied extensively.


METHODS
Between July 2004 and May 2006, 54 consecutive patients with lumbar dysplastic changes or degenerative disc diseases underwent TLIF using 82 kidney-type spacers with iliac bone grafts. All were followed-up for more than 2 years (mean, 2 y, 11 mo). SS was defined as disc height loss >2 mm. Risk factors analyzed for SS included spacer location in the intervertebral space (IVS, anterior, center, and posterior), sex, age, body mass index, and disease (spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease). Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Associated Score for back pain, as were adjacent segment disorder and nonunion.


RESULTS
Of the 82 spacers, 66 were located in the center of the IVS and 16 anteriorly. There were 18 SS. Spacer position at the center of the IVS (P<0.001) and older age (P<0.001) were significantly associated with SS, with the first 2 factors having a synergistic effect. Adjacent level disorder (n=5) and nonunion (n=3) were observed only in patients with spacers positioned at the center of the IVS.


CONCLUSIONS
Kidney-type spacers should be located in the anterior portion of the IVS to prevent subsidence of the intervertebral body, especially in patients with elderly age.
Fukuta
Shoji
S
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, Japan.
Miyamoto
Kei
K
Hosoe
Hideo
H
Shimizu
Katsuji
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*