Effect of intraoperative position used in posterior lumbar interbody fusion on the maintenance of lumbar lordosis

Abstract

The objective in this study was to compare retrospectively the use of different operating tables with different positions for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and the effect on intraoperative and postoperative lumbar lordosis and segmental lordosis. One hundred seventy-two patients with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine who underwent posterior decompression and PLIF in which a 0 degrees polyetheretherketone cage and pedicle screw fixation were used were evaluated. Ninety-one patients underwent surgery on a Wilson table (Group I) and 81 patients were treated on an OSI Jackson spinal table (Group II). Preoperative standing, intraoperative prone, and postoperative standing lateral radiographs were obtained in each patient. The total lumbar and segmental lordosis were compared and analyzed according to the position in which the patients were placed for their operation. The intraoperative total lumbar lordosis was significantly decreased compared with the preoperative value. The postoperative total lumbar lordosis was similar, however, to the preoperative values in both groups. In Group I, the intraoperative segmental lordosis of L2-3 and L3-4 was significantly decreased compared with the pre-operative segmental lordosis. In Group II, the intraoperative segmental lordosis of L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1, and L4-S1 was significantly decreased compared with the preoperative segmental lordosis. The postoperative segmental lordosis of L4-5 was significantly decreased and L2-3 was significantly increased compared with the preoperative lordosis in both groups. Intraoperative position does not affect postoperative total lumbar lordosis and segmental lordosis in short-segment PLIF of the lumbar spine in a retrospective analysis of the surgical procedure to maintain lordosis.