Analysis Of Corelation Between Fusion Rate And Clinical Outcome After Single Level Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Purpose:Achieving fusion was always considered to be the ultimate goal of Posterior lumbar interbody fusion.And the debate about corelation between fusion and clinical outcome always exists.The goal of this study was to analyze the corelation between fusion rate and clinical outcome through X-ray and CT scan.Method:A retrospective study was performed to analyze the clinical and radiological data of patients who underwent PLIF in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University during the same time. The follow-up was taken by the telephone revisit and the outpatient service reexamination revisit.CT scan and3D CT reconstruction was performed to assess fusion.The patients were divided into two groups according to different fusion states. The clinical data was assessed with Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score.X-ray.The comparisons between the groups were based on chi-square tests for categorical variables, and on independent t tests for continuous variables.a probability less than.05considered to be statistically significant.ResuIt:The overall fusion rate is72.9%.Preoperative clinical features of nonunion group and solid fusion group were not statistically meaningful.And the Oswestry Disability Index (19.382±7.725) and Visual Analog Scale (lumbar:2.465±0.923, leg:2.662±1.095) pain score of the group that achieved solid fusion at follow-up has no statistically significant difference from the outcome of the group(ODI:20.654±9.075, lumbar VAS:2.724±1.032, leg VAS:2.630±1.115) which failed to achieve solid fusion.Conclusion:During mid-term after posterior lumbar interbody fusion patients with lumbar degenerative diseases can achieve a good clinical outcome.And within mid-term after posterior lumbar interbody fusion the fusion rate shows no significant corelation with clinical outcome.