Radiographic Analysis of the Results of Anterior Internody Arthrodesis on the Sagittal Lumbopelvic Parameters

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study is to analyze the radiographs of patients who underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), to compare the values of the lumbopelvic measurements, and to quantify improvements in these parameters achieved through this technique. Methods The radiographs of 42 patients, all submitted to ALIF with a 12° interbody device, were evaluated from a database at a single center. The pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis, and regional lordosis angles of each patient were measured in pre- and postoperative radiographs. Results We observed a discreet change in the pelvic parameters and a marked increase in regional lordosis with a mean increase of 5.8° (p>0.001). Segmental lordosis also showed a mean increase of 2.43°. The gain in segmental lordosis was even higher in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and when the operated level was L5-S1. Conclusions The ALIF technique in the lumbar spine is capable of significantly increase the lordosis of a segment, whether at one or two levels. Greater improvement in the lumbopelvic parameters was observed it the procedures performed in level L5-S1 and in cases that presented spondylolisthesis.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (Alif): Epidemiological and Radiological Profile

“…This author believes that the antalgic kyphotization may have influenced these values in the radiograph caused by pain in the immediate postoperative period (PO), considering that the control radiographs were performed in the early PO. 17 In our study, an increase in lumbar lordosis and the anterior and posterior height of the intervertebral disc was observed after ALIF…”

“…1 No patient in this study had postoperative neurological damage with indirect decompression, corroborating previously published papers in the literature. 1 Nanni FN et al, 17 in their study on radiographic evaluation of patients undergoing ALIF -observed increased segmental lordosis and reduced lumbar lordosis. This author believes that the antalgic kyphotization may have influenced these values in the radiograph caused by pain in the immediate postoperative period (PO), considering that the control radiographs were performed in the early PO.…”

Alterações posturais: a caracterização de discentes de Fisioterapia em uma instituição do ensino superior em Fortaleza/CE

“…Portanto, reforçar-se a necessidade de ampliar esta pesquisa em uma amostra maior. Ademais, enfatiza-se que deve ser futuramente analisado em outros estudos: estratégias de prevenção e recuperação da saúde postural entre estudantes do ensino superior, formas de tratamento, desenvolvimento de dispositivos de prevenção e avaliação postural e investigar a relação entre variáveis como tempo de estudo, área profissional de atuação e alterações posturais escolióticas [21][22][23].…”