Surgical outcomes of posterolateral fusion in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and osteoporosis

Dinh Manh Hai, Nguyen Thanh Tam, Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, Nguyen Thi Duyen, Nguyen Hai Yen, Vu Thi Lan Anh, Nguyen Hoai Nam

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Abstract

Our study focuses on patients who underwent posterolateral decompression, spinal fixation, and bone grafting from 1/2021 to 12/2023 at Hanoi Medical University Hospital. The study was conducted on 50 patients that matched the criteria, in which the mean age was 69.32 ± 8.24 years old, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.5:1. Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy was observed in 32%, and lumbar disc herniation in 60%. The most commonly affected level was L4–L5 (92%). Preoperative VAS scores for back and leg pain were 6.7 ± 2.1 and 6.5 ± 2.4, respectively. The mean preoperative ODI was 42.6 ± 13%. Mean operative time was 150 ± 33 minutes, and mean intraoperative blood loss was 169 ± 73ml. Intraoperative complications included one case of pedicle screw placement at the superior endplate and one cases of surgical site infection. The overall complication rate was 4%. Mean hospital stay was 6.3 ± 2.7 days, and mean time to ambulation postoperatively was 3.7 ± 1.4 days. Results after 6 months postoperative follow-up: Very good 32%, Good 38%, Medium 28%, Bad 2%. Results after 12 months postoperative: Very good 40%, Good 44%, Medium 16%. Osterolateral spinal decompression, fixation, and bone grafting are associated with lower complication rates, shorter operative times, and reduced intraoperative blood loss compared to interbody fusion techniques, especially in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and osteoporosis. 

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References

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