Elimination of Subsidence with 26-mm-Wide Cages in Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion.

TitleElimination of Subsidence with 26-mm-Wide Cages in Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsLang G, Navarro-Ramirez R, Gandevia L, Hussain I, Nakhla J, Zubkov M, Härtl R
JournalWorld Neurosurg
Volume104
Pagination644-652
Date Published2017 Aug
ISSN1878-8769
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Decompression, Surgical, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Internal Fixators, Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Lumbar Vertebrae, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures, Prosthesis Design, Prosthesis Failure, Prosthesis Implantation, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Spinal Fusion, Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Extreme lateral interbody fusion (ELIF) has gained popularity as a minimally invasive technique for indirect decompression. However, graft subsidence potentially threatens long-term success of ELIF. This study evaluated whether 26-mm-wide cages can eliminate subsidence and subsequent loss of decompression in ELIF.

METHODS: Patients undergoing ELIF surgery using a 26-mm-wide cage were analyzed retrospectively. Patient demographics and perioperative data for radiographic and clinical outcomes were recorded. Radiographic parameters included regional sagittal lumbar lordosis and foraminal and disc height. Clinical parameters were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale. Subsidence of 26-mm-wide cages was compared with previous outcomes of patients undergoing ELIF using 18-mm-wide and 22-mm-wide cages.

RESULTS: There were 21 patients and 28 spinal segments analyzed. Radiographic outcome measures such as disc and foraminal height revealed significant improvement at follow-up compared with before surgery (P = 0.001). Postoperative to last follow-up cage subsidence translated into 0.34 mm ± 0.26 and -0.55 mm ± 0.64 in disc and foraminal height loss, respectively. Patients with 26-mm-wide cages experienced less subsidence by means of disc (26 mm vs. 18 mm and 22 mm, P ≤ 0.05) and foraminal height (26 mm vs. 18 mm, P = 0.005; 26 mm vs. 22 mm, P = 0.208) loss compared with patients receiving 18-mm-wide and 22-mm-wide cages.

CONCLUSIONS: The 26-mm-wide cages almost eliminated cage subsidence in ELIF. Compared with 18-mm-wide and 22-mm-wide cages, 26-mm-wide cages significantly reduced cage subsidence in ELIF at midterm follow-up. A 26-mm-wide cage should be used in ELIF to achieve sustained indirect decompression.

DOI10.1016/j.wneu.2017.05.035
Alternate JournalWorld Neurosurg
PubMed ID28526641