Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Threaded Fusion Cage(TFC)

Kim, Young Soo; Yoon, Do Heun; Park, Hyoung Chun; Cho, Yong Eun; Roh, Sung Woo

Abstract

Of all fusion techniques in the lumbar spines, posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) has the best theoretical opportunity to achieve fusion by way of compression loading of the bone graft between the well vascularized vertebral bodies. Even though the rationale for the PLIF is quite reasonable, it has been a very technically demanding procedure and frequent problems have been reported which include protrusion of bone grafts, settling of the interspace and pseudoarthrosis. A new deice, Threaded Fusion Cage(TFC) seems to be an ideal solution for the various technical problems which hindered greater success of PLIF in the past. Maintenance of stability and absence of loss of disc height are assured due to the threaded metal tube concept. We have operated PLIF with TFC in 60 patients since last December. The preoperative diagnoses were 27 degenerative disc diseases, 25 degenerative spondylolisthesis, 7 spondyloysis & listhesis and 1 FBSS. Our initial experience with the clinical results show that the most of the patient have marked improvement of low back pain and reduction is possible in almost cases of the spondylolisthesis. Long term follow up is needed as to the future of the threaded cage, but it would appear that once they have been in a stable position and fusion with the patients' own bone has occurred. In our opinion, the use of TFC in the future will be widely spread and represents an ideal method for the treatment of chronic low back pain and spinal instability.