Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Good bone fusion is essential for spinal long-term stability. There are many methods of bone fusion. According to the results of some retrospective studiess, interbody fusion is the most reliable way.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and imaging outcome for the treatment of degenerative lumbar instability with posterior pedicle screw fixation plus carbon fiber cage interbody placement or bone graft interbody placement.
METHODS: A total of 27 patients with degenerative lumbar instability were treated with pedicle screw fixation. All patients were randomized to carbon fiber cage interbody placement (CFCIP) group (n=16) and to bone graft interbody placement (BGIP) group (n=11). Two appropriate fusion cages were used following measurement of intervertebral space height, and the vertebral plate and spinouse process blocks were filled in the cage and implaned into the intervertebral space. The fusion status and interbody height were reviewed under radiographic documents and CT. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were followed up for an average of 19 months (range, 16 to 25 months). The neurologic function and back pain improved significantly in two groups. The excellent and good rate was 91.3% in CFCIP group obtained and 89.4% in BGIP group. The fusion rate was 87.5% in CFCIP group, and 90.9% in BGIP group one year after operation. The average intervertebral height of CFCIP group was greater than BGIP group at the end of follow-up. Results show that the pedicle screw fixation displayed good histocompatibility and the average intervertebral height tends to be less following CFCIP compared with BGIP, but the fusion rate and clinical excellent and good rate were no different significantly.