title: Posterior dynamic stabilization for the treatment of patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease: long-term clinical and radiological results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of long-term preoperative and postoperative clinical and radiological results for patients diagnosed with degenerative disc disease that underwent posterior dynamic stabilization. Lumbar disc degeneration is caused by a variety of factors. Disruptions in the vertebral endplate result in defects in disc nutrition and, thus, disc degeneration. The aims of dynamic stabilization are to unload the disc/facet joints, preserve motion under mechanical load, and restrict abnormal motion in the spinal segment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disc disease were enrolled. Totally, 25 vertebral segments were subjected to posterior dynamic stabilization. Patients were clinically evaluated in the preoperative and postoperative periods using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Segmental movement was evaluated radiologically in the late postoperative period by measuring the segmental angles during flexion and extension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant postoperative improvements were observed in the ODI and VAS measurements (P < 0.01). During the long postoperative period (averaging 5 years and 2 months), lumbar lordosis angles, intervertebral space ratio and segmental ratio were measured and compared statistically. Adjacent segment disease developed in two patients. Both patients received L5-S1 discectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good clinical outcomes were observed in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease with a posterior dynamic system.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canbay
authors.forename: Ahmet Levent
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: Serhat Fuat
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Erten
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basmaci
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasani
authors.forename: Ali Fahir
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ozer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult