Unilateral Posterior Fixation, Bone Grafting and Fusion in Treatment of Lumber Spinal Degenerative Disc Disease

TAMER A.A. NAFEA, M.Sc., MOHAMED H.A. ASHOUR, M.Sc.;; AHMED MORRAH, M.D., TALAAT ELHADIDI, M.D.;; HISHAM M. SOLIMAN, M.D., WISAM GABER, M.D;

doi:10.21608/mjcu.2022.271472

Unilateral Posterior Fixation, Bone Grafting and Fusion in Treatment of Lumber Spinal Degenerative Disc Disease

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculties of Medicine, Cairo* and Zagazeg** Universities

10.21608/mjcu.2022.271472

Abstract

Abstract Background: The relative high cost of pedicular screws is still an obstacle in treatment of long standing symptomatic degenerative disc disease in developing countries, the health system authorities and the patients are always seeking the lowest cost surgery with the most optimum efficiency and safety. Aim of Study: To determine the efficacy of unilateral pedicular instrumentation in treatment of single level DDD in terms of fusion, hospital stay, time of surgery, blood loss, screw complications and cost. Patients and Methods: The present study was case series study conducted on 40 patients with long standing DDD had unilateral posterior pedicular fixation with interbody bone grafting and posterolateral fusion, Follow-up was carried on up to 24 months with radiographs done 1st day P.O, 3 and 12 months. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was applied to evaluate the patients preoperatively and after 12 months. Results: This study found that 12.5% had excellent im-provement, 70% of patients had good improvement, while 12.5% had fair improvement and 5% had poor improvement. Also, 95% of patients had fusion by radiological assessment. Conclusion: Unilateral pedicle screw fixation is recom-mended as an optimal surgical method for single level lumbar degenerative disc disease compared to bilateral fixation.

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