J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2017 Nov;60(6):684-690. 10.3340/jkns.2017.0203.

Perioperative Results and Complications after Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Spinal Stenosis in Geriatric Patients over than 70 Years Old

• Choi JM
• Choi MK
• Kim SB

• KMID: 2395788
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2017.0203

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
As increasing the size of the geriatric population, the number of elderly patients, who need the surgery for painful degenerative spinal stenosis has been increasing. The geriatric population may be relatively high complications, because of age and age-associated medical conditions. However, there is a lack of studies addressing the perioperative complications and outcomes in elderly patients with posterior lumbar inter body fusion with screw augmentation (PLIF).
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographic studies of geriatric patients who had spine surgery of PLIF due to spinal stenosis for 11 years. We divided into 2 groups (A; 70-75 years, B; over then 76 years) according to the age. Surgical level of each groups, hospital day and postoperative day, co-morbidities, complications, clinical outcomes were analyzed. Operative reports, hospital and outpatient clinic charts, and radiographic studies were reviewed.
RESULTS
Group A was composed of 80 patients, their mean age was 72.21 and female dominant (n=46), and their mean surgically fused level was 1.52 level. Group B was 36 patients, their mean age was 78.83 and female dominant (n=20), and their mean surgically fused level was 1.36 level. Comparing between two groups, complications, postoperative hospital stay were slightly increase in group B and co-morbidity was statistically high in group B, however clinical outcomes were similar between two groups.
CONCLUSION
Increasing age might be an important risk factor for complications in patients undergoing PLIF, however, we would like to recommend that if the situation of spine of extreme geriatric patients need PLIF, it should be in the surgeon's consideration after careful selection and clinical judgement.

Keyword

Lumbar vertebrae; Geriatrics

MeSH Terms

Aged
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Female
Geriatrics
Humans
Length of Stay
Lumbar Vertebrae
Medical Records
Postoperative Complications
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Spinal Stenosis*
Spine

Reference

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