Effect of Pre-existing Adjacent Segment Degeneration on Long-term Effectiveness After Lumbar Fusion Surgery
This study follows patients who undergo back surgery (fusion) for degenerative lumbar spine disease to see how pre-existing wear and tear in nearby spine segments affects long-term surgical outcomes. Researchers will track patients over time to understand whether the condition of discs, joints, and ligaments next to the surgery site influence how well patients do after surgery.
Key Objective: This trial tests whether identifying pre-existing degeneration in adjacent spine segments can help predict long-term success and complications after lumbar fusion surgery.
Who to Consider: Patients who need or are considering posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease and want to understand how their existing spine condition may affect their surgical outcomes should consider enrolling.
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
This is a prospective single-center study. Patients requiring posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for lumbar degenerative disease are prospectively enrolled and followed. Important adjacent pre-existing degeneration factors include discs degenerated, facets and ligamentum flavum tropism which could lead to spinal canal stenosis (SCS). This study will focus on the effects of pre- existing adjacent degeneration (disc factors and spinal canal stenosis factors) on long-term postoperative outcomes.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * A clear diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis, and surgical level of L4- S1 (The levels to be operated on were decided by matching the clinical symptomatology with the radiological findings of the spinal levels that needed decompression); * Failed at least eight weeks conservative treatment; Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable factors (slip, rotation, lateral bending, etc.) in adjacent segment L3/4; * Preoperative sagittal and coronal imbalance of the spine; * Lumbar infection and/or tumor diseases; * A previous history of lumbar fusion surgery.