Turkish Neurosurgery 2013 , Vol 23 , Num 2
Posterior Dynamic Stabilization for the Treatment of Patients with Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: Long-Term Clinical and Radiological Results
Suat CANBAY1, Ahmet Levent AYDIN2, Elif AKTAS3, Serhat Fuat ERTEN1, Mehmet BASMACI1, Mehdi SASANI4, Ali Fahir OZER5
1Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Training Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
3Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey
4American Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
5Koc University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.6459-12.0 AIM: Comparison of long-term preoperative and postoperative clinical and radiological results for patients diagnosed with degenerative disc disease that underwent posterior dynamic stabilization. Lumbar disc degeneration is caused by a variety of factors. Disruptions in the vertebral endplate result in defects in disc nutrition and, thus, disc degeneration. The aims of dynamic stabilization are to unload the disc/facet joints, preserve motion under mechanical load, and restrict abnormal motion in the spinal segment.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Twenty-five patients diagnosed with lumbar degenerative disc disease were enrolled. Totally, 25 vertebral segments were subjected to posterior dynamic stabilization. Patients were clinically evaluated in the preoperative and postoperative periods using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Segmental movement was evaluated radiologically in the late postoperative period by measuring the segmental angles during flexion and extension.

RESULTS: Significant postoperative improvements were observed in the ODI and VAS measurements (P<0.01). During the long postoperative period (averaging 5 years and 2 months), lumbar lordosis angles, intervertebral space ratio and segmental ratio were measured and compared statistically. Adjacent segment disease developed in two patients. Both patients received L5-S1 discectomy.

CONCLUSION: Good clinical outcomes were observed in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease with a posterior dynamic system. Keywords : Degenerative disc disease, Dynamic stabilization, Lumbar spine, Surgical treatment

Corresponding author : Ali Fahir Ozer, alifahirozer@gmail.com