Surgical treatment of degenerative lumbar spine diseases in elderly patients
SU Qing-jun
LIU Tie
KANG Nan
YANG Jin-cai
ZANG Lei
MENG Xiang-long
YUAN Shuai
HAI Yong
Abstract：Objective To investigate the safety and clinical effects of surgical treatment of degenerative lumbar spine diseases in elderly patients. Methods 42 patients with degenerative lumbar spine diseases who were enrolled from January 2008 to December 2011 selectively underwent surgical treatment, including 6 patients with lumbar disc herniation, 10 patients with lumbar disc herniation and spinal stenosis, 6 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and 20 patients with spinal stenosis. There were 28 males and 14 females, with an average age of 77.2 years old ( range;75-84 years ). They were followed up for a mean period of 31 months ( range;17-64 months ). The preoperative concomitant diseases, postoperative complications and relevant treatment methods were analyzed. The clinical effects were evaluated by the Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) and the Visual Analogue Scale ( VAS ). Based on the anteroposterior ( AP ), lateral and dynamic X-ray iflms of the lumbar spine during the follow-up, the lumbar spinal stability, lumbar spinal fusion and implants were observed after the surgery. Results The postoperative complications included 7 cases of increased blood pressure, 1 case of angina, 1 case of cerebral infarction, 4 cases of pulmonary infection and 3 cases of cerebrospinal lfuid leakage. Operational segment instability or internal ifxation failure was not found based on the X-ray films 1 year after the surgery or in the latest follow-up. The ODI was improved from ( 71.1±19.2 )%preoperatively to ( 22.0±11.3 )%postoperatively ( P<0.01 ). The VAS of low back pain was improved from ( 6.0±2.1 ) preoperatively to ( 2.2±1.7 ) postoperatively ( P<0.01 ). The VAS of lower leg pain was improved from ( 7.9±1.7 ) to ( 3.1±2.1 ) ( P<0.01 ). 39 of 42 patients got satisifed results, and the other 3 patients were basically content with the results. Conclusions With the concomitant diseases and postoperative complications actively controlled, elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal diseases can pull through the perioperative period successfully and obtain good clinical results.
Keywords：Intervertebral disc degenerationLumbar vertebraePostoperative complications
Publication Date：2013-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 546-550 )