腰椎変性疾患に対するPLIF cage単独使用の経験

抄録

This study, evaluated the clinical outcome of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with threaded cages only (AESCULAP H.M.A. system). We performed the operation on 13 patients (5 males and 8 females) with lumbar spinal canal stenosis, disk hernia with instability and degenerative listhesis. The mean age at surgery was 67.4 years (range : 54 to 75) and the period of follow-up was 6 to 57 months, (average : 23.7). Fusion success was judged by absence of motion on flexion-extension radiographs and absence of bone halo around the implants.
The mean JOA score improved from the preoperative score of 12.4 to 23.5 at the last follow-up (average improvement rate 60.1%). Leg pain was reduced in all cases. Intervertebral angle improved to less than 2 degrees in 8 cases which we judged as bone union occurred. No halo around cage, migration, or displacement of implant was observed in any case.
We believe that PLIF with interbody cage is useful for elderly patients who have lumbar spinal canal stenosis with spinal instability.