Journal
SPINE
Volume 39, Issue 17, Pages 1373-1383Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000437
Keywords
chronic low back pain; adjacent segment disc degeneration; fusion; nonoperative treatment
Categories
Funding
- Hansjorg Wyss Research Award
- Thames Valley Comprehensive Local Research Network for National Institutes for Health Research.
- Norway, Norwegian Research Council
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Study Design. Cross-sectional analysis of long-term follow-up (LTFU) data from 4 randomized controlled trials of operative versus nonoperative treatment for chronic low back pain. Objective. To examine the influence of spinal fusion on adjacent segment disc space height as an indicator of disc degeneration at LTFU. Summary of Background Data. There is ongoing debate as to whether adjacent segment disc degeneration results from the increased mechanical stress of fusion. Methods. Plain standing lateral radiographs were obtained at LTFU (mean, 13 +/- 4 yr postrandomization) in 229 of 464 (49%) patients randomized to surgery and 140 of 303 (46%), to nonoperative care. Disc space height and posteroanterior displacement were measured for each lumbar segment using a validated computer-assisted distortion compensated roentgen analysis technique. Values were reported in units of standard deviations above or below age and sex-adjusted normal values. Patient-rated outcomes included the Oswestry Disability Index and pain scales. Results. Radiographs were usable in 355 of 369 (96%) patients (259 fusion and 96 nonoperative treatment). Both treatment groups showed significantly lower values for disc space height of the adjacent segment than norm values. There was a significant difference between treatment groups for the disc space height of the cranial adjacent segment (in both as-treated and intention-to-treat analyses). The mean treatment effect of fusion on adjacent segment disc space height was -0.44 SDs (95% CI, -0.77 to -0.11; P = 0.01; as-treated analysis); there was no group difference for posteroanterior displacement (0.18 SDs, 95% confidence interval, -0.28 to 0.64, P = 0.45). Adjacent level disc space height and posteroanterior displacement were not correlated with Oswestry Disability Index or pain scores at LTFU (r = 0.010-0.05; P > 0.33). Conclusion. Fusion was associated with lower disc space height at the adjacent segment after an average of 13 years of FU. The reduced disc space height had no influence on patient self-rated outcomes (pain or disability).
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