Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.22(3) > 1076080

Kim, Suk, Lee, Lee, Kim, Park, Huh, and Kim: The Impact of Lumbar Lordosis on the Adjacent Segment Disease after Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Abstract

Study Design

A retrospective study.

Objectives

We analyzed the risk factors and relevance of lumbar lordosis on the incidence of adjacent segment disease after posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Summary of Literature Review

Maintaining lumbar sagittal balance is important for decreasing the incidence of adjacent segment disease after posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Materials and Methods

Among the patients who had undergone posterior lumbar interbody fusion of 1 or 2 levels between August 2001 and October 2008, we analyzed 153 patients who were available for at least three years of followup; among the subjects, 115 were males and 38 were females. Mean age among the patients at the time of initial surgery was 60.3 (range, 41-82) and mean followup period was 5.6 years (range, 3-11). The causative diseases were spinal stenosis in 78 cases, degenerative spondylolisthesis in 51 cases, isthmic spondylolisthesis in 23 cases, and degenerative disc disease in 1 case. At last followup, there were 52 cases (33.9%) of adjacent segment disease. Among them were found 21 cases (40.4%) of disc degeneration, 17 cases (32.7%) of instability, and 14 cases (26.9%) of simultaneous disc degeneration and instability. A total of 10 patients (6.5%) underwent a revision operation, and the mean period from initial to revision operation was 5.5 years (range, 3.1-10.3). We analyzed the correlation between risk factors of adjacent segment disease and the incidence of the disease depending on the gap between lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence, and compared the clinical results of the 2 groups using modified Whitecloud classification.

Results

The incidence of adjacent segment disease was not statistically significant for patient age, sex, BMD, degree of obesity, causative disease, and the level of previous surgery. However, the incidence of adjacent segment disease was statistically higher in patients who had more than 9 degrees gap between lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence (p=0.013). In our analysis of clinical results, 63.5% of the group of patients who developed adjacent segment disease and 80.2% of the group without adjacent segment disease had good or satisfactory results (p=0.031).

Conclusion

Maintaining lumbar sagittal balance is important for decreasing the incidence of adjacent segment disease after posterior lumbar interbody fusion, and close observation is needed in patients with 9 or more degrees gap between lumbar lordosis and pelvic incidence.

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Figures and Tables%

Fig. 1.
(A) Initial diagnosis was degenerative spondylolisthesis L3-4-5. (B) PLIF was done L3-4-5. In whole spine standing radiograph at postoperative 3 months, lumbar lordosis (LL) was 40.8°, pelvic incidence (PI) was 52.2° (discrepancy=11.4°). (C) At postoperative 3.9 years, ASD was developed at L2-3. (D) PLIF extension was done.
jkss-22-69f1.tif
Table 1.
Arthritis Grade for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (UCLA Classification)11)
Grade Disc space narrowing Osteophytes End plate sclerosis
I - - -
II + - -
III ± + -
IV ± ± +

The grade is based on the most severe radiographic finding evident on plain radiographs.

Patients were rated based on the worst category satisfied.

+, present; -, absect; ± either present or absent.

Table 2.
Criteria for Assessing the Clinical Outcome2)
Outcome Pain Medication Activity Work status
Excellent None except for occasional back pain None Normal Normal
Good Markedly improved, occasional pain Occasional use of pain medication Minimal functional limitation Return to work, although not at the same job activity
Fair Some improvement Frequent use of medication Restricted Limited
Poor No change in symptoms or a wors-ening of the patients condition Oral use of narcotics Incapacitated Disabled
Table 3.
Development of Adjacent Segment Disease According to the L & PI relation
LL-PI ≤9 LL-PI >9 p value
Case 98 55
Incidence of ASD 26(26.5%) 26(47.3%) 0.013
Mean LL 46.7 40.3
Mean PI 49.4 54.6
Mean difference -2.7 -14.4

LL: lumbar lordosis, PI: pelvic incidence, ASD: adjacent segment disease.

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