Abstract:

BACKGROUND: A variety of cages, such as carbon fiber cage and threaded titanium cage, for lumbar fusion have been used to treat lumbar spinal instability and obtain favorable clinical outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: To treat lumbar spinal instability using rectangle carbon fiber cage and threaded titanium cage and compare the clinical effect and radiological appraisal.
METHODS: A total of 59 cases of lumbar spinal instability underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion with rectangle carbon fiber cage (n=37) and threaded titanium cage (n=22) combined pedical fixation were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were evaluated by M-JOA scoring system, and the intervertebral height and the lumbar triangle were observed. The bone fusion was determined on X-ray and CT at follow-up.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No differences were observed between two groups in intervertebral height and the lumbar triangle at 1 week postoperatively (P > 0.05). At 1 year postoperatively, the height of intervertebral space and the lumbar triangle were greater 1 year after operation in fusion with rectangle carbon fiber cage compared with fusion with threaded titanium cage (P < 0.01). Both groups obtained bony fusion, with clinical symptoms relief and lower back pain improvement (P > 0.05). The rectangle carbon fiber cage and threaded titanium cage in interbody lumbar fusion are effective to treat lumbar spinal instability in clinical effect and bone fusion, but the interbody fusion with rectangle carbon fiber cage could maintain a perfect height of intervertebral space and lumbar triangle.