5 things to know on disc degeneration after scoliosis spinal fusion

A new study published in Spinal Deformity examines lumbar degeneration after spinal fusion in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

 

The researchers examined 93 patients with AIS who underwent follow-up after 154 months on average. The patients had radiologic measurements at the time of surgery, immediately after surgery and then 10 years after surgery. The researchers found:

1. There was disc degeneration in 48 percent of the patients 10 years after surgery.

2. The most common location for the disc degeneration was L5/S1. Around 40 percent of the patients experienced disc degeneration there.

3. There were 34 percent of the patients with spinal fusion at L1 who reported disc degeneration.

4. The frequency of disc degeneration increased with lower instrumented vertebra placement.

5. The patients who reported DD+ and DD- reported a difference in age at the operation time, L4 tilt and the number of mobile segments.

"Disc degeneration had a tendency to occur in patients with greater preoperative and postoperative 10 years L4 tilt angle and fewer mobile segments in the lower spine," concluded the study authors.




Source : Beckers Spine , 26th Oct 2015