Posterior lumbar interbody fusion using single polyetheretherketone transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage: a single-surgeon experience

Abstract

Study design This is a prospective nonrandomized single-surgeon experience of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using a single polyetheretherketone (PEEK) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) cage in degenerative lumbar disorders. Summary of background data The PLIF procedure has gained popularity, with different indications. TLIF PEEK cages can be used either singly or doubly. There are several practical problems encountered in the TLIF procedure with implantation of two cages. Objectives The aim of this work is to evaluate single-surgeon experience of early results of PLIF using a single PEEK TLIF cage in degenerative lumbar disorders. Patients and methods The study included 19 consecutive cases with degenerative lumbar disorders. There were 12 female and seven male patients. Their age ranged between 22 and 68 years. The follow-up period ranged between 6 and 16 months. All patients were diagnosed using MRI. Postoperative and follow-up radiography and multislice computed tomography were used to verify the screws and position of the cage, to exclude cage subsidence or migration, and to show the fusion status. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for back and leg pain was used. Results All the patients had good cage positioning and none had instrumentation failure or screw loosening. Postoperative intervertebral height in all the patients was better than the preoperative ones. Moreover, cage migration, retropulsion, subsidence, or pseudoarthrosis was not observed at the end of follow-up. VAS for leg pain showed a statistically significant improvement from 7.9 preoperatively to 2.8 at the end of follow-up. VAS for back pain also showed a statistically significant improvement from 6.8 preoperatively to 3.7 at the end of follow-up. Conclusion Early results of PLIF using a single PEEK TLIF cage in degenerative lumbar disorders are encouraging. However, longer follow-up is still necessary.