Authors: Michael R Briseño Rishabh D Phukan Dana A Leonard Tyler L Herzog Charles H Cho Joseph H Schwab Kirkham B Wood Christopher M Bono Thomas D Cha
Publish Date: 2015/09/12
Volume: 25, Issue: 1, Pages: 230-234
Abstract
The state of adjacent level discs and its impact on surgical outcomes following singlelevel lumbar discectomy have not been previously investigated The purpose of the present study was to determine if a significant relationship exists between the degree of preoperative adjacent level disc degeneration and postoperative clinical outcomes following lumbar discectomyThis study retrospectively used preoperative magnetic resonance imaging MRI and prospectively collected data from a randomized clinical trial at two tertiarycare academic hospitals Patients who underwent a primary singlelevel lumbar discectomy were included Exclusion criteria included prior lumbar surgery Outcome measures were the Modified Oswestry Disability Index ODI score and Visual Analog Scale VAS scores for back and leg pain These were recorded at baseline and at 3 months 1 and 2 years postoperatively An independent reviewer graded adjacent level disc degeneration on all preoperative MRIs using the Pfirrmann grading scale These data were then analyzed for correlation with each outcome measureFortyseven patients were included in the study No statistically significant correlations were found when comparing preoperative 3month or 1year postoperative scores or change from baseline of any outcome measure between Pfirrmann grades Only about half the patients had 2year followup but at that time point a statistically significant difference in back VAS scores was observed between Pfirrmann groups No other significant differences were observed at that pointThomas D Cha consults for Bio2 and GE Healthcare gives expert testimony for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and has grants from the North American Spine Society and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation His institution receives fellowship support from OREF AOSpine and K2M Christopher M Bono consults for United Health Care gives expert testimony for Crico receives royalties from Wolters Kluwer and receives a stipend from JAAOS for being a deputy editor Kirkham B Wood gives expert testimony for Morrison Mahoney and has TranSi stock His institution receives grants from NIH and fellowship support from OREF K2M Depuy and AOSpine Joseph H Schwab consults for Stryker and Depuy Synthes Spine For the remaining authors no disclosures were reported
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