Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (9): 2334-2342.doi: 10.12307/2026.645

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Lumbar fusion combined with unilateral fixation for lumbar degenerative diseases: biomechanics, technical evolution, and clinical applications 

Zhang Xianxu, Ma Zhong, Liu Xin, Huang Lei, Shen Wenxiang, Luo Zhiqiang   

  1. Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China
  • Received:2025-03-03 Accepted:2025-05-15 Online:2026-03-28 Published:2025-09-29
  • Contact: Luo Zhiqiang, PhD, Chief physician, Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China
  • About author:Zhang Xianxu, Physician, Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, Gansu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Cuiying Science and Technology Innovation Project of Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, No. CY2021-MS-A03 (to LZQ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Lumbar degenerative disease is common in middle-aged and elderly individuals, often presenting as low back pain and lower limb dysfunction. Traditional lumbar fusion combined with bilateral pedicle screw fixation is associated with large surgical trauma, many complications, and other issues. Unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with lumbar fusion, as a minimally invasive treatment approach, offers smaller trauma and a lower risk of complications, gradually becoming a new choice for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.
OBJECTIVE: To review the effect and advantages of lumbar fusion surgery combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.
METHODS: A literature review was conducted by searching PubMed and CNKI databases from January 2021 to January 2025 to summarize clinical studies and biomechanical characteristics of lumbar fusion combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation. The search terms included “lumbar fusion, unilateral fixation, bilateral fixation, biomechanics, degenerative disease of the lumbar spine.” Ultimately, 70 articles were included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Lumbar fusion surgery combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation effectively reduces surgical trauma and intraoperative blood loss, provides biomechanical stability similar to bilateral pedicle screw fixation, and lowers the risk of adjacent segment degeneration. (2) Unilateral pedicle screw fixation has been widely recognized in the treatment of single-segment and two-segment lumbar degenerative disease, although its application in multi-segment lumbar degenerative disease still requires further research. (3) Lumbar fusion combined with unilateral pedicle screw fixation provides a minimally invasive and safe option for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. More high-quality studies are needed in the future to validate its application and long-term efficacy in complex cases and further optimize its clinical use.

Key words: lumbar degenerative disease, lumbar fusion, unilateral pedicle screw fixation, bilateral pedicle screw fixation, minimally invasive surgery, biomechanics, adjacent segment degeneration

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