Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single center

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data on the clinical outcome after spinal fusion in the elderly patient are rare. To our knowledge there has been no clinical outcome assessment for instrumented spinal fusion in elderly patients comparing posterolateral fusion with...

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Main Authors: Wilke Axel, Aigner Rene, Endres Stefan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-08-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/12/189
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author Wilke Axel
Aigner Rene
Endres Stefan
author_facet Wilke Axel
Aigner Rene
Endres Stefan
author_sort Wilke Axel
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data on the clinical outcome after spinal fusion in the elderly patient are rare. To our knowledge there has been no clinical outcome assessment for instrumented spinal fusion in elderly patients comparing posterolateral fusion with intervertebral fusion. Aim of the current study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of elderly patients who underwent a spinal fusion procedure for degenerative spinal stenosis with instability. Main hypothesis was to test whether it is necessary to force an intervertebral fusion for a better clinical outcome in spinal fusion surgery of the elderly or not.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two subgroups - posterolateral fusion versus intervertebral fusion (cage vs. non-cage) were compared with regard to functional outcome, fusion rates and complications after a mean follow up of 3.8 years. Questionnaires were completed by the patients before surgery and at final follow-up. Changes in mean VAS and ODI scores (decrease from the baseline VAS and ODI scores) were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean final follow up for all subjects was 3.8 years. Of the 114 patients, 2 patients were deceased at the time of the follow-up, 5 patients didn't want to participate and 107 patients completed the questionnaires. This resulted in an overall follow-up rate of 93%. At final follow-up, the patients demonstrated significant improvement in the VAS and ODI- compared with the preoperative scores in both groups. But overall there were no significant differences between both groups regarding the outcome assessment using the ODI and VAS.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of this study shows that elderly patients aged over 75 benefit from instrumented lumbar fusion. The study suggests that there is no need to force an intervertebral fusion because elderly patients do not seem to benefit from this procedure.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-6c3f5b643c0f4c2f8f51024069558e7e2022-12-22T02:48:22ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742011-08-0112118910.1186/1471-2474-12-189Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single centerWilke AxelAigner ReneEndres Stefan<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data on the clinical outcome after spinal fusion in the elderly patient are rare. To our knowledge there has been no clinical outcome assessment for instrumented spinal fusion in elderly patients comparing posterolateral fusion with intervertebral fusion. Aim of the current study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of elderly patients who underwent a spinal fusion procedure for degenerative spinal stenosis with instability. Main hypothesis was to test whether it is necessary to force an intervertebral fusion for a better clinical outcome in spinal fusion surgery of the elderly or not.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two subgroups - posterolateral fusion versus intervertebral fusion (cage vs. non-cage) were compared with regard to functional outcome, fusion rates and complications after a mean follow up of 3.8 years. Questionnaires were completed by the patients before surgery and at final follow-up. Changes in mean VAS and ODI scores (decrease from the baseline VAS and ODI scores) were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean final follow up for all subjects was 3.8 years. Of the 114 patients, 2 patients were deceased at the time of the follow-up, 5 patients didn't want to participate and 107 patients completed the questionnaires. This resulted in an overall follow-up rate of 93%. At final follow-up, the patients demonstrated significant improvement in the VAS and ODI- compared with the preoperative scores in both groups. But overall there were no significant differences between both groups regarding the outcome assessment using the ODI and VAS.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of this study shows that elderly patients aged over 75 benefit from instrumented lumbar fusion. The study suggests that there is no need to force an intervertebral fusion because elderly patients do not seem to benefit from this procedure.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/12/189Posterolateral fusionintervertebral fusionelderlyoutcome
spellingShingle Wilke Axel
Aigner Rene
Endres Stefan
Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single center
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Posterolateral fusion
intervertebral fusion
elderly
outcome
title Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single center
title_full Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single center
title_fullStr Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single center
title_full_unstemmed Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single center
title_short Instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients Clinical results of a single center
title_sort instrumented intervertebral or posterolateral fusion in elderly patients clinical results of a single center
topic Posterolateral fusion
intervertebral fusion
elderly
outcome
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/12/189
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AT endresstefan instrumentedintervertebralorposterolateralfusioninelderlypatientsclinicalresultsofasinglecenter