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Related Experiment Videos

The failed posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

F T Wetzel1, H LaRocca

  • 1Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey.

Spine
|July 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Unsuccessful posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) often leads to chronic pain and complications like pseudarthrosis. Even with solid fusion, pain relief is not guaranteed, highlighting shortcomings of the PLIF procedure.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurosurgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Spinal Surgery

Background:

  • Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) is a common spinal procedure.
  • Unsuccessful PLIF cases present significant challenges and are not well-documented.
  • Chronic pain and radiculopathy are common sequelae of failed PLIF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the outcomes of patients who experienced failed Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF).
  • To identify the complications and challenges associated with unsuccessful PLIF.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of subsequent treatments for failed PLIF.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 12 patients with failed PLIF.
  • Analysis of patient history, previous procedures, and clinical presentation.

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  • Evaluation of surgical interventions and outcomes, including fusion status and pain relief.

    • Main Results:

    • All 12 patients experienced chronic radiculopathy.
    • Nine patients had pseudarthrosis, and 11 had extensive epidural fibrosis.
    • Only five patients reported improved pain after further surgical treatment; solid fusion did not correlate with pain relief.

    Conclusions:

    • Failed PLIF can lead to persistent pain and complications such as pseudarthrosis and epidural fibrosis.
    • Subsequent surgeries offer limited pain relief, and solid fusion does not guarantee satisfactory outcomes.
    • The study highlights significant shortcomings of the PLIF procedure in certain patient populations.