Researchers analyzed the clinical experiences of non-fusion dynamic stabilization surgery for adjacent segmental pathology, following lumbar fusion, according to an International Journal of Spine Surgery study.
The study involved 15 patients who had dynamic stabilization surgery for symptomatic ASP. Researchers studied their medical records, MRIs and plain radiographs. Twelve of the patients had the fusion segment at L4-5, and the mean time between prior fusion and later non-fusion surgery was 67 months.
Here are six takeaways:
1. Before non-fusion surgery, the Visual Analog Scale read a value of 7.4 and the Oswestry Disability Index showed a value of 58.5 percent. At 36 months post-surgery, these numbers decreased to 4.2 and 41.3 percent.
2. Researchers found the MRI grade for disc and central stenosis showed degeneration at L3-4. Additionally, the study found disc degeneration from lateral radiographs at L3-4 between the time of the fusion surgery and the non-fusion surgery.
3. Following the non-fusion surgery, the L3-4 segment and the L2-3 segment preserved in the disc, stenosis and facet joint. The L1-2 segment demonstrated disc degeneration on the last MRI.
4. Researchers found five cases of radiologic ASP, illustrating disc-space narrowing at L1-2 and L2-3.
5. No patients received further surgery for ASP following non-fusion dynamic stabilization surgery.
6. Researchers concluded non-fusion dynamic stabilization system could prove effective for elderly patients with symptomatic ASP, following lumbar fusion.