title: Long-term follow-up of the anterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term clinical results and the effectiveness of the anterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999 and 2005, 60 ALIFs were performed in 59 patients. Mean age was 41.1 years. Clinically, patients were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 9.5 years using the Visual Analogue Scale grading scale, the Oswestry Disability score and the SF-36 questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative and postoperative clinical evaluation scores of 38 patients were available. Nineteen patients were lost to follow-up, and 2 patients died during the follow-up. The fusion rate was 84%. Mean preoperative VAS-score for back pain was 6.69 (±2.15) ; in the long term, the mean VAS-score was 4.95 (±2.95), which was a significant improvement. (p<0.01). The postoperative ODI-score was 36.11 (±22.32), while the preoperative ODI-score was 59.31 (±17.16), which demonstrates a significant improvement. According to the SF-36, mild to good results were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ALIF procedure can offer significant pain relief and improved function if a strict indication policy is followed.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verbruggen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tampere
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uyttendaele
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sys
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poffyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome