BIOABSORBABLE CAGES IN SPINAL FUSION IN AN ANIMAL MODEL: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Area of Science:

• Spinal surgery
• Biomaterials
• Orthopedic research

Background:

• Conventional interbody cages are widely used in spinal fusion procedures.
• Bioabsorbable materials offer potential advantages in reducing long-term complications.
• Comparative efficacy data in animal models is crucial for clinical translation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze animal studies comparing bioabsorbable and conventional interbody cages.
• To assess the impact of follow-up duration on fusion rates, range of motion (ROM), and disc height.
• To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of bioabsorbable interbody cages.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 animal studies.
• Inclusion of 244 animals across all studies.
• Calculation of odds ratio (OR) for ROM and fusion rate; assessment of heterogeneity using Cochran's Q test.

Main Results:

• A cumulative OR of 1.70 for ROM and fusion rate was observed within the first four months.
• No significant differences in intervertebral disc height were found between cage types.
• Low heterogeneity indicated consistent results across studies, suggesting bioabsorbable cages are not inferior in long-term follow-ups.

Conclusions:

• Bioabsorbable interbody cages demonstrate efficacy comparable to conventional techniques in animal models.
• These cages show advantages in shorter follow-up periods (<4 months) and no inferiority in longer-term outcomes.
• Further research is needed to establish the clinical applicability of bioabsorbable interbody cages.