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ALIF effective for degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis
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Data from a recently published study demonstrated the effectiveness of anterior lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative disc disease, with and without radiculopathy, and spondylolisthesis, according to researchers.
The prospective study included data for 125 patients who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) during a 2-year period. Patients were divided into cohorts based on their indications for surgery: degenerative disc disease (DDD) with radiculopathy, DDD without radiculopathy, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, failed posterior fusion, and adjacent segment disease (ASD) above or below a previous lumbar fusion.
The researchers evaluated patients preoperatively and postoperatively, with outcome measures including SF-12, Oswestry Disability Index, VAS and Patient Satisfaction Index scores.
Data showed patients with DDD (with and without radiculopathy), scoliosis and spondylolisthesis had the best response to ALIF, according to the researchers. Patients in these cohorts achieved statistically significant improvement in SF-12, Oswestry Disability Index and VAS scores.
Of the seven procedures for scoliosis, six were multilevel, and fusion was achieved in 100% of the patients. Patients with spondylolisthesis (isthmic and degenerative) had successful outcomes, with an 89% clinical success rate and 95% radiological fusion.
Patients with DDD experienced superior radiological outcomes (fusion > 90%), according to the researchers. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosures: The study was supported by funding from Cerapedics, which was used to conduct the study and for database maintenance.
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