The Shot-Term Clinical Studies Of Peek Connecting Rods In Lumbar Fusion

[Objective] To evaluate the short-term clinical prospective study of PEEK connection rods in the lumbar pedicle screw of lumbar fusion.[Methods] The41patients from2010to2011with lumbar degeneration and lumbar spinal stenosis were departed into2group in Clinical period、random and parallel control method, age of24to74years, average50.75years old, which involved19men and21women. Patients were followed up for6month. Lateral lumbar spine X ray, flexion film had held out, CT scan, sagittal ceconstruction, and MRI examinations were routinely taken pre operatively.21patients in control group were treated titanium alloy connection rods in lumbar fusion.20patients in experimental group were treated PEEK connection rods in lumbar fusion. The operation of surgery was lumbar disc resection and lumbar intervertebral fusion and fixation. The results of operations according to the Journal of Orthopaedic Society of spinal group LBP operation evaluation standard and JOA scoring system, which was formulated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association, were evaluated on pre operatively, and2w,3m,6m post operatively. The data was evaculated bu SPSS13.0analysis software. The difference was statistical significance when P<0.05.[Results]41patients were followed up regularly postoperatively in6months. Infection syndrome did not appear like red and swollen incision when the incisions of all patients were taken out stitches.3patients appearred cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were treated with partial pressure bandage and supine pillow and CSF disappeared when they were discharged from hospital. All patients did not suffer from suppuration and sinus tracts and incisions union well. Screws and connection rodss did were not broken in experimental group and control group. Neurological function of patients recovered to the level of original life and work or close to.(1)The clinical efficacy was evaluated by Journal of Orthopaedic Society of spinal group LBP operation evaluation standard. The results of the control group were excellent in17cases, good in3cases and the good rate is95.2%in. The results of experimental group were excellent in15cases, good in4cases and the good rate is95%in control group.(2)The neurological function in patients was evaluated by JOA scoring system. The results of the control group were5.5、20.7、26.1and28.1on pre operatively, and2w,3m,6m post operatively operation and the corresponding improvement rate were62.6%、80.8%及94.8%。The results of the experimental group were4.0、20.1、22.4and27.8on pre operatively, and2w,3m,6m post operatively operation and the corresponding improvement rate were56.7%、75.4%and95.4%. Postoperative images showed all the bone fusion were satisfied. The different between experimental and control group was not significant. Two groups were similar in short-term effect.[Conclusion] The application of PEEK connecting rods in lumbar fusion has similar effect in short term with the application of titanium alloy connection rods. PEEK material has thantitanium biocompatibility, good strength, elastic modulus than the low titanium alloy and more in line with the principle of fusion surgery. PEEK connecting rods can avoid stress shielding of the spine to a certain extent, increase the compression of lumbar intervertebral, reduce the incidence of fusion segments and achieve the full fusion of bone graft. PEEK connecting rods can be used as optional materials of lumbar fusion with a high clinical significance.