1996 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 119-122
A total of 50 patients with an unstable lumbar disorder underwent posterolateral fusion using spinal instrumentation between 1984 and 1993. We investigated the clinical results for any correlation with the radiograms. Subjects comprised 22 males and 28 females, with an average age of 48 years. Disorders consisted of 17 patients with degenerative spondylolisghesis, 5 with spondylolysis or spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, 5 with lumbar canal stenosis, 4 with lumber disc herniation, 9 with a multiply operated back and 10 with fractures. Four kinds of spinal instrumentations were used; Harrington or Luque rod in 15 patients, Knodt rod in 8 and pedicular screw system in 31. Bony fusion was obtained in all patients except one.
Complications occurred in 9 patients with an instrument failure involving either rod loosening or breakage of the screw or hook.
Clinical results were excellent in 11, good in 14, fair in 11 and unchanges in 14. The clinical condition did not collelate with instrument failure. However, we concluded that instrument surgery should only be performed for the severely unstable spine.
