Lumbosacral fusion increases the risk of hip osteoarthritis

There may be biomechanical changes in the adjacent hip joint after lumbosacral fusion. The literature has limited information on how these biomechanical changes may result in hip joint space.

METHOD: Our retrospective study examined hip joint space narrowing in patients who underwent lumbosacral fusion between 2020 and 2022. In addition, spinopelvic parameters such as sacral slope, the sagittal vertical axis, pelvic incidence, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic tilt were compared in patients who underwent short-segment (up to three levels, S group) and long-segment (4 and higher levels, L group) fusions.

Our study found no significant relationship between spinopelvic parameters and joint space narrowing in the S and L groups. In addition, it was determined that there was more narrowing in the hip joint space in the long-segment group, and there was a positive correlation between the segment length and the narrowing in the hip joint space.

After lumbosacral fusion, narrowing of the hip joint space was observed. Particularly patients with long-segment lumbosacral fusion should be followed closely regarding hip osteoarthritis risk.