Authors: Lizu Xiao Donglin Xiong Qiang Zhang Jin Jian Husan Zheng Yuhui Luo Juanli Dai Deren Zhang
Publish Date: 2009/09/26
Volume: 19, Issue: 2, Pages: 325-330
Abstract
Degenerative disc disease DDD causes gradual intervertebral space collapse concurrent discogenic or facetinduced pain and possible compression radiculopathy A new minimal invasion procedure of percutaneous posteriorlateral lumbar interbody fusion PPLIF using a BTwin standalone expandable spinal spacer ESS was designed to treat this disease and evaluated by followup more than 1 year 12 cases with chronic low back pain and compressive radiculopathy due to DDD refractory were selected to conservative treatment Under fluoroscopy in the posteriorlateral position a Kwire was advanced into the intervertebral space and a dilator and working cannula were introduced into the disc space step by step Discectomy and endplate scratching were performed through the cannula using pituitary forceps and endplate curettage An ESS was inserted into the intervertebral space by a BTwin expandable spinal delivery system after some bone graft chips implanted into the disc space The ongoing study includes intraoperative difficulties complications radiologic evidence of fusion and clinical outcome as scored by pre and postoperative questionnaires pertaining to pain intensity and degree of disability The 12 procedures of lumbar interbody fusion using standalone expandable spinal system through percutaneous approach were successful Radiologic study demonstrated fusion in a total of 11 cases and only 1 exception after more than 1 year visiting The values of Visual Analog Scale VAS on movement and Oswestry Disability Index ODI dropped by more than 80 and 674 respectively Disk space heights averaging 90 mm before procedure were increased to 115 mm 1 month a significant difference compared with preprocedure P 001 after surgery and stabilized at 108 mm upon final followup a significant difference compared with preprocedure P 001 The results demonstrated that the percutaneous approach for posteriorlateral lumbar interbody fusion using expandable spinal system is a valuable microinvasion method for the DDD patients and can achieve the same outcome as with other methods
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