A recent study examined whether patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion experienced better outcomes with an interbody graft or with a cage. The results were published in The Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques.
The researchers conducted a prospective study including 59 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis. There were 32 patients treated with the interbody graft and 27 patients treated with the cage. Patients were followed for two years.
Here are five key findings from the study:
1. There wasn't a significant difference in postoperative lordotic angles between the two techniques.
2. There wasn't a significant difference in clinical outcomes between the two procedures.
3. The study authors determined the cage didn't show an advantage to restore lumbar lordosis.
4. The cage didn't promote improvement in clinical symptoms when compared with the interbody graft.
5. There wasn't an advantage in pain relief for the patients who received the cage.