ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Once lumbar degenerative diseases merge with lumbar spinal stenosis, lumbar instability and degenerative scoliosis, surgical therapy is required for corresponding clinical symptoms, and the usage of internal fixators cannot be inevitable. Osteoporosis is rather common in the elderly. Therefore, how to implant stable pedicle screw fixation system in serious osteoporosis patients wil be a big difficulty. In recent years, some studies have proven the biomechanical stability of polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw in the vertebral body, so it becomes very hot in the spine surgery. OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of the use of polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis. METHODS:Thirty-one patients with lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis from Jun 2008 to Jan 2013 were selected, including 11 males and 20 females with an average age of 73.5 years (range, 65-86 years). There were 14 cases of lumbar degenerative stenosis, 9 of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation combined with segmental instability, 6 of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, and 2 of lumbar degenerative scoliosis. The patients were treated with lumbar canal decompression, fusion and polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation according to their clinical features and imaging data. Visual analog scale for pain evaluation was used before and after fixation, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale was used for assessment of neurological function and life skils before internal fixation and during folow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al cases were folowed up for 40 months (range, 36-48months). No screw breakage, rod breakage, screw extraction, loosening, pseudoarticulation formation, or incision infection was found. The postoperative visual analog scale score and the JOA score was remarkably improved (P < 0.05). For patients suffering from lumbar degenerative disease accompanied with osteoporosis, polymethylmethacrylate augmentation of a cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screw fixation is helpful for increasing the stabilization of screw and preventing from loosening and dislocation of the screws, and thereby beneficial for improvement and maintenance of clinical efficacy.