Placement of threaded devices, such as cages or bone dowels, was associated with a higher acute complication rate than was the placement of nonthreaded devices during anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Current types of anterior spinal instrumentation and reconstruction techniques can allow some types of unstable three-column thoracolumbar injuries to be treated in an anterior stand-alone fashion. This allows direct anterior decompression of neural elements, improvement in segmental angulation, and acceptable rates of arthrodesis without the need for supplemental posterior instrumentation.

For the aged patient, surgical decompression of the lumbar spine can be performed on an outpatient basis safely and successfully.

The Bryan disc treatment, on average, maintained flexion/extension range of motion without degradation over 24 months. No ectopic bridging ossification was seen in any of the Bryan discs and no subsidence or displacement of the Bryan disc occurred.