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DISC HEIGHT EVALUATION AND CLINICAL RESULTS OF POSTERIOR LUMBAR INTERBODY FUSION USING BRANTIGAN CAGES: AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW DISC HEIGHT EVALUATION AND CLINICAL RESULTS OF POSTERIOR LUMBAR INTERBODY FUSION USING BRANTIGAN CAGES: AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW In 1989, one investigator reported a 100% rate of graft collapse without interbody cages. Previous studies demonstrated pedicle screw fixation was not enough to prevent disc collapse with interbody fusion. Another investigator reported a good correlation between disc height and neuroforamenal volume. Therefore, one of the main reasons cages were invented was to increase and maintain disc height. However, increase in disc height is almost never reported in most cage studies. Few clinical studies exist in the literature that have no commercial interest, a minimum 2-year follow-up, an independent observer, and evaluation of disc height. A retrospective study to provide an independent evaluation of the PLIF using carbon cages. Clinical outcome was evaluated using pre-operative and post-operative Prolo score. An independent radiologist used the Brantigan fusion criteria. A pre-operative and post-operative disc height was measured. Twenty patients had 23 levels of interbody fusion. Nine of the 20 patients were revisions. 20% of the cages were worker’s compensation. All patients had neurological complaints pre-operatively. The average follow-up was 3.6 years. The fusion rate was 100%. The average improvement in Prolo pain score was 2.5. 65% had an excellent outcome. 20% had a good outcome. 15% had a fair or poor outcome. The average increase in disc height was 4.9mm and was maintained through follow-up. Our clinical and radiographic results are comparable to the limited data currently available for the Brantigan cage. This study is the only cage study with over 3.5 years follow-up, no commercial interest, and evaluation of pre-operative and post-operative disc height. Back to Papers and Presentations |
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