ABSTRACT

Objectives:

We evaluated patients in whom cages were used for posterior lombar interbody fusions for the diagnosis of degenerative spine disease.

Methods:

We retrospectively inspected 35 patiences having degenerative spine between may 1999 - january 2004. There were 29 fema-le 6 male mean age 59.4, mean follw up 32.7 months.

Results:

We found 22 bony bridging betwe-en the vertebral bodies, and 10 fusions with be-low 4 degrees angulation without bony bridging. Radiologicaly approwed fusion rate was obta-ined 32 patients (91.4 %). Clinical evaluation: 26 excellent (74.2 %), 6 good (17.3 %), 2 fair (5.7 %), 1 poor (2.8 %o). As a whole 32 (91.5 %) patients wew accepted as satisfactory and 3 (8.5 %) as unsatisfactory. The complications we had for posterior interbody fusions were different in fere-quency and in numbers.

Conclusions:

The cages we applied with the posterior approach only causes 360 degree fusions, and solves the instability problem by correc- ting the alingnment and spinal load bearing. By adding the posterior enstrumantation to this technique affects the clinical results positively and degreases the needs for reoperation. But one should keep in mind this technique incre-ases the possibility of regional osteopenia. This technique has a long learning curve and should be used by experienced surgeons.