title: The role of sacrolumbar fat grafting in the treatment of spinal fusion instrumentation-related chronic low back pain: a preliminary report.
abstract: METHODS
  A report of 2 cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to report 2 preliminary cases with instrumentation-related chronic low back pain (CLBP) successfully treated with fat graft in the sacrolumbar region.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Patients undergoing successful spinal fusion surgery may experience new or recurrent CLBP. Instrumentation-related soft-tissue irritation is a well-known etiology of this frustrating condition. Treatment options vary from conservative treatment till instrumentation removal, with no consensus on their efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 32-year-old patient and a 37-year-old patient with instrumentation-related debilitating CLBP visual analogue scale score 7 and 10, respectively, underwent 1 session of fat grafting in the sacrolumbar region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 9-month and 6-month follow-ups, both patients reported a substantial pain relief, a considerable improvement in daily quality of life and satisfaction for less implant palpability and visibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The encouraging results of these preliminary cases may open new horizons for a multidisciplinary approach in treating instrumentation-related CLBP. Fat grafting may represent a valid and minimal invasive option to be taken into account when established therapeutic options fail. Further experience with longer follow-up is needed to confirm our findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  5.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Catholic University of "Sacro Cuore," University Hospital "A. Gemelli," Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salgarello
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Visconti
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D011788:Quality of Life; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome