Long-term Outcomes Of PLIF On Degenerative Lumbar Disease

Background:Degenerative lumbar disease is popular along with more older persons. There are many different methods to treat the degenerative lumbar disease, such as Posterior lateral fusion (PLF), Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), et al. However, it is lack of long-term outcomes for these methds.Objective:To evaluate the long-term outcomes of clinical efficacy of posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of degenerative lumbar disease. To provide the guidelines for the cure of degenerative lumbar disease.Methods:Retrospective analysis of 96 patients with degenerative lumbar disease August who were treated in our hospital between February 2003 and August 2009 treated, all patients were treated by posterior lumbar interbody fusion. There were 45 men and 51 women, the average age of all the patients was 61.1 years(ranging from 50 to 79 years). The Oswestry disability index (ODI), Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) 29 scores and imaging evaluation of treatment were evaluated.Results:All the 96 patients were followed-up for 62--132 months, average 79.5 months. The preoperatively ODI score was average (63 ±20)%, while it was an average of (19±12)% at the last follow-up(P<0.05). The preoperatively VAS score was average (7.83 ± 1.62), while it was an average of (1.07 ±0.28) at the last follow-up(P<0.05). The preoperatively JOA score was average (15.6 ±1.5), while it was an average of (27.3 ± 1.6) at the last follow-up(P<0.05). The improvement rate of JOA was 87.3%. All patients were evaluated by Macnab, excellent:71 cases, good 13 cases, approve:10 cases, bad 2 cases, with excellent rate of 87.5%. All patients have shown perfect interbody fusion in imaging examination 3-6 months later, except for one patient, whose pedicle fracture become of an accident, the remaining patients had no loosening or fracture.1 case complicated by incision infection, and cured by using antibiotics. Two cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, cured after improved nutrition and drainageConclusion:The long-term results show good clinical outcomes after PLIF. PLIF is efficacy and reliable in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.