J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2011 Dec;18(4):217-222. 10.4184/jkss.2011.18.4.217.

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Outcomes in Degenerative Lumbar Disease: Comparison of Results between Patients Over 70 and 50-65 Years of Age

• Kim EH
• Yoon JH
• Lee YS
• Jang HD
• Kim HT

• KMID: 1447999
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2011.18.4.217

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study.
OBJECTIVES
This study analyzed the clinical and radiographic results of the posterior lumbar interbody fusion performed on patients 50-65 and >7-years-of-age suffering from degenerative lumbar disease. LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY: Several studies on posterior lumbar interbody fusion performed on patients aged about 65 years reported insignificant age-related differences in the spinal-fusion results.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The records of 121 patients with degenerative lumbar disease treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion between 2004 and 2010 were assessed. The patients' clinical results, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) values, and complications before and after the surgery were compared. The radiographic results and changes in the fusion segmental angle before and after the surgery as well as in the height of the posterior intervertebral disc were also compared.
RESULTS
In group A, comprising 44 patients >70-years-of-age, follow-up duration and number of comorbidities were 73.3 years and 17.8 months, respectively. In group B, comprising 77 patients 50-65-years-of-age, follow-up duration and number of comorbidities were 58.8 years and 31.8 months, respectively. In both groups, the average VAS scores and ODI values decreased. The incidence rate of vertebra-related postoperative complications was 13.6% in group A and 9.0% in group B. The incidence rate of general complications unrelated to the vertebra, was 18.1% in group A and 9.0% in group B.
CONCLUSIONS
Posterior lumbar interbody fusion is considered effective even in patients over 70 years with a degenerative lumbar disease.

Keyword

Old age; Posterior lumbar interbody fusion; Complication; Spine surgery

MeSH Terms

Aged
Comorbidity
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Intervertebral Disc
Postoperative Complications
Retrospective Studies
Spine
Stress, Psychological

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Course of the VAS. A trend of decrease was observed in both groups.

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  Fig. 2. Course of the ODI. A trend of decrease was observed in both groups.

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  Fig. 3. Course of the fusion segmental angle. A trend of postoperative increase, followed by gradual decrease was observed in both groups.

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  Fig. 4. Course of the height of the posterior intervertebral disc. A trend of postoperative increase, followed by gradual decrease was observed in both groups.

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