Lateral and posterior single cage combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation for lumbar degenerative disease

Yan Dong-xue; Huang Yong-ji; Ma Guang-bin; Luo Jun; Hu Jun-zu; Xiao Rong-chi

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.04.009

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Most of lumbar degenerative diseases, such as lumbar instability, lumbar disc herniation and discogenic lumbago, need lumbar spinal fusion for the spine stability, but the choice of internal fixation approaches is controversial. <br> OBJECTIVE:To compare the effectiveness between lateral lumbar interbody fusion with single cage and single cage combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation for the 4th and 5th single-level lumbar degenerative disease. <br> METHODS:The clinical data of patients with single-level lumbar degenerative diseases (L4 and L5) undergoing lateral lumbar interbody fusion with single cage in 30 cases (experimental group) and single cage combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation in 45 cases (control group) were analyzed retrospectively, and the curative effects were compared between the two groups. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients in the two groups were fol owed up for 13 months on average (ranged from 10 to 37 months). The incisions in the two groups were stage I healing. One case in the experimental group occurred cage displacement, but no obvious syndromes were detected. No significant difference in the effective rate after operation, hospital stay, and volume of drainage was detected (P>0.05). The operative time and bleeding volume in experimental group were better than those in the control group (P<0.05). ODI and JOA scores were significantly improved after treatment when compared with preoperative ones in the two groups (P<0.05), but no significant difference was visible between the two groups (P>0.05). The effectiveness of lateral lumbar interbody fusion with single cage and single cage combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation for single-level degenerative lumbar diseases was similar. However, the former has the advantages of less invasion and quick recovery.