ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study to analyze the results of posterior lumbar interbody fusion, using laminar bone and titanium block, with pedicle screw instrumentation. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of posterior lumbar interbody fusion, using laminar bone and titanium block, with pedicle screw instrumentation. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Several studies have demonstrated the results of posterior lumbar interbody fusion, there has been no report on our method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2001 to May 2002, seventeen patients were treated by posterior lumbar interbody fusion, using laminar bone block, from spinous process and titanium block. All patients were clinically followed up over 12 months. The mean age of the patients and follow-up were 58 years and 15 months, respectively. The clinical results were evaluated by Kim's criteria and radiological union, and the subsidence of disc space and change of the lordotic curve were assessed by a simple Xray. RESULTS: The satisfactory clinical result and radiological union rates were 83.3 and 90.4%, respectively. The mean subsidence of the disc space and change of the lordotic curve were 0.8 mm and 1.6 degrees, respectively. There was one complication of a wrong insertion of the pedicle screw to the disc space. CONCLUSION: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion using laminar bone and titanium block showed an acceptable radiological union rate and clinical results. This could be a good alternative method for obtaining initial stability and bony union without taking a bone graft from the posterior ilium in various spinal lesions.