PLIF using Cages at the Instability Level and Additional Transpedicular Instrumental Fusion in Multilevel Degenerative Lumbar Disease

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PLIF using cages on the unstable level and additional instrumented posterolateral fusion in patients with multilevel lumbar degenerative disease with segmental instability. METHODS: Clinical and radiological outcomes including the rate of bony fusion and changes in disc height, translation, and angular displacement on PLIF level, and its complications were analyzed in 28 patients (male:female=8:20) who were observed for more than 2 years (mean 30.6 months) between 1998 and 2000. RESULTS: The rate of successful fusion was 93% (26 patients). Clinical outcomes according to Prolos's classification were revealed with excellent in 10 patients (36%), good in 14 patients (50%), fair in 3 patients (10%), and poor in 1 patient (4%). The mean disc height on the PLIF level (35 levels including 6 patients with 2 levels PLIF) was changed from 0.48+/-0.11, preoperatively to 0.66+/-0.08 at 2-year follow-up by Farfan method (P<0.05). Mean vertebral body translation was decreased from 7.52+/-2.74mm, to 1.07+/-1.33mm and mean angular displacement was corrected from 11.21+/-4.43 degree to 1.03+/-0.62 degree (P<0.05). Permanent complications were relatively minimal. CONCLUSION: Favorable outcomes were achieved in 86% with relatively low surgical morbidity rates. It can be concluded that PLIF using cages on unstable lumbar segment and additional instrumented posterolateral fusion method is an effective stabilizing method for the multilevel lumbar degenerative disease with segmental instability in spite of its technical demanding and long operation time.

A Case of Vesical Endometriosis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue (gland and stroma) outside the uterus. The most frequent sites of implantation are the pelvic viscera and the peritoneum. About 1% of woman with endometriosis have urinary tract lesions, of which 85% involve the bladder. We report one case of vesical endometriosis that have been treated by partial cystectomy.