Cement discoplasty for managing lumbar spine pseudarthrosis in elderly patients: a less invasive alternative approach for failed posterior lumbar spine interbody fusion

Purpose A retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate pseudoarthrosis treatment results by injection of cement in disc space of failed fusion in posterior lumbar interbody fusion in patients above 65 years. Methods Forty-five patients above 65 years with symptomatic pseudarthrosis after lumbar spine fusion were treated by cement injection in the affected disc space. Results There were 30 females and 15 males. The mean age at the operation was 74 +/- 6.5 years (range 65-89). Discoplasty was performed after the primary fusion operations after a mean of 14 +/- 1.3 months (range 12-24). The mean preoperative VAS was 7.5 (range 6-9), and ODI was 36 (range 30-45). Cement injection was done at one level in most of the cases (35 patients). In seven cases, two injection levels were done, and in three cases, three levels. Twenty-three patients had discoplasty only, while 22 had discoplasty and screws change, including 14 cases of extension of the instrumentation. The mean postoperative follow-up was 32 +/- 6.5 months. The VAS improved to 3.5 (range 2-5) (p = 0.02) and ODI to 12.3 (range 5-35) (p = 0.001). Reoperation was indicated in two (4%) patients by screws loosening. Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in the paravertebral space in seven cases (15.5%). Conclusion Cement discoplasty offers a less invasive reliable surgical solution in elderly patients with symptomatic lumbar pseudarthrosis in the elderly patients. In cases with screw loosening, discoplasty should be combined with screw revision.

Automated summary

This retrospective cohort study evaluated the treatment results of pseudoarthrosis by cement injection in failed fusion in posterior lumbar interbody fusion in patients above 65 years. The study found that cement discoplasty offers a less invasive surgical solution for elderly patients with symptomatic lumbar pseudarthrosis, and can effectively improve symptoms.