Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.23(2) > 1076089

Lee, Jeong, Hong, Choi, Kang, and Kim: Risk Factors of Cage Subsidence after Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Abstract

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors for subsidence after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).

Summary of Literature Review

Body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), cage characteristics (titanium or poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK)) and degree of disc distraction are risk factors for cage subsidence after PLIF.

Materials and Methods

From January 2010 to January 2015, a total of 69 patients (93 segments) who were diagnosed with degenerative lumbar spine disease at the current authors’ institution and underwent follow-up for at least 1 year were included in this retrospective study. Data on all factors related to cage subsidence were taken into consideration. The degree of association for each of the factors was determined through the calculation of odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval. Logistic regression analyses were performed. The P-value that represented statistical significance was set below 0.05.

Results

There were no significant associations between fused segment level and cage subsidence (p=0.588), nor were there any significant associations between the kind of cage (titanium or PEEK) and cage subsidence (p=0.371). Using logistic regression, the factors with a P-value below the 0.20 level in univariate analyses were included in the multivariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, diabetes mellitus (DM) (p=0.029, OR, 4.524), osteoporosis (p=0.026, OR, 6.046), and degree of disc distraction (p=0.010, OR, 1.446) had significant associations with cage subsidence. In addition, there were significant associations between cage subsidence and instrument failure (p=0.008, OR, 8.235).

Conclusions

DM and osteoporosis, which may affect bony structures, have significant associations with cage subsidence after PLIF. Cage insertion with excessive disc distraction during surgery may also affect cage subsidence after PLIF.

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Fig. 1.
Measurement of preoperative and postoperative disc height in the lumbar lateral view (A: anterior disc height, B: posterior disc height, C: sagittal diameter of the vertebral body measured between the midpoints of the anterior and posterior surfaces).
jkss-23-100f1.tif
Table 1.
Demographic and clinical data of the patients (N=93 segments)
  No subsidence Subsidence p-value
Segments No. 72 21  
Age (year) 68.0±8.3 68.2±8.7 0.912
Sex      
Male 24 8 0.490
Female 25 12  
Weight (kg) 61.6±9.7 63.6±13.1 0.452
Height (cm) 158.6±7.9 159.4±9.7 0.675
BMI (kg/m2) 24.4±2.9 24.8±3.2 0.596
Smoking 6 3 0.707
DM 9 8 0.096
Osteoporosis 7 8 0.344
Cage type      
Titanium 29 7 0.371
PEEK 43 14  
Trauma 3 4 0.181
Disc distraction (mm) 2.66±2.1 3.71±2.1 0.047

BMI: Body Mass Index

PEEK: Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone.

Table 2.
Ca ge subsidence followin ng the inserted level
Level No subsidence Subsidence p-value
L2-3 1 (1.1%) 2 (2.2%) 0.091
L3-4 16 (17.2%) 3 (3.2%) 0.384
L4-5 44 (47.3%) 9 (9.7%) 0.124
L5-S1 11 (11.8%) 7 (7.5%) 0.061
Table 3.
Subsidence and clinical outcomes
  No subsidence Subsidence p-value
VAS 2.9±1.1 2.7±1.1 0.641
ODI 14.4±4.7 13.7±3.9 0.520

VAS: Visual Analogue Scale, †ODI: Oswestry Disability Index.

Table 4.
Strengths of associations between cage subsidence and various factors in the univariate and multivariate analyses
  Univariate analysis Multivariate analysis
P-value Odds ratio (95% CI) P-value Odds ratio (95% CI)
Sex 0.461 0.688 (0.254 to 1.860) 0.776 0.841 (0.255 to 2.771)
Age 0.910 1.003 (0.946 to 1.064) 0.807 0.991 (0.922 to 1.065)
Weight 0.448 1.018 (0.972 to 1.066)    
Height 0.671 1.013 (0.955 to 1.074)    
BMI 0.592 1.046 (0.888 to 1.233) 0.615 1.052 (0.862 to 1.285)
Smoking 0.693 0.750 (0.180 to 3.122)    
DM 0.144 2.154 (0.760 to 6.102) 0.029 4.524 (1.163 to 17.599)
Osteoporosis 0.065 2.773 (0.912 to 8.426) 0.026 6.046 (1.240 to 29.473)
Multi-level 0.240 1.816 (0.672 to 4.912) 0.067 5.871 (0.886 to 38.890)
Cage 0.566 0.741 (0.267 to 2.061) 0.973 0.977 (0.252 to 3.875)
Radiculopathy 0.695 1.411 (0.253 to 7.855)    
Trauma 0.099 3.153 (0.763 to 13.024) 0.059 5.064 (0.940 to 27.281)
Disc distraction 0.047 1.239 (1.004 to 1.540) 0.010 1.446 (1.093 to 1.914)

BMI: Body Mass Index

PEEK: Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone

CI: Confidence Interval.

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