Background: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) affords a wide operative corridor to allow for a large interbody cage implantation for segmental reconstruction. There is a paucity of data describing segmental lordosis (SL) achieved with lordotic implants of varying angles. Here we compare changes in SL and lumbar lordosis (LL) after implantation of 68, 108, and 128 cages.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed LLIF cases over a 5.5-year period. We derived SL and LL using the standard cobb angle measurement from a standing lateral radiograph. We analyzed mean changes in SL and LL over time using the linear mixed effect model to estimate these longitudinal changes.Results: The most frequently treated level was L3-4, followed by L4-5. Significant increases in mean SL were found at each follow-up time point for all the cohorts. In an intercohort comparison, the mean changes in SL at immediate postoperative and last follow-up were significantly greater in the 108 cohort than 68 ([7.48 versus 3.18, P ¼ .004], [6.18 versus 2.38, P ¼ .025] respectively). The 128 cohort had higher mean change in SL at last follow-up than the 68 cohort (5.98 versus 2.38, P ¼ .022). There was no difference in mean change in SL between the 108 and 128 cohorts. No difference in overall mean LL over time was found. In terms of mean change in LL, no difference was observed except at immediate and 6month postoperative in the 108 cohort ([9.68, P ¼ .001], [8.5, P ¼ .003] respectively). By comparing mean change in LL, no difference existed except between the 108 and 68 immediately after surgery (9.68 versus 0.28, P ¼ .006).Conclusions: LLIF cages significantly improve SL at the index level. However, this increase in SL is greater for 108 and 128 cages than the standard 68 cage. Use of 108 cages also resulted in overall improved LL than 68 cages.Level of Evidence: 3. Clinical Relevance: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.