Abstract
Background Cage implantations and autologous pelvic bone grafts are common surgical procedures
to fuse the spine in cases of spinal disorders such as traumatic fractures or degenerative
diseases. These surgical methods are designed to stably readjust the spine and to
prevent late detrimental effects such as pain or increasing kyphosis. Benefits of
these surgical interventions have been evaluated, but the long-term well-being of
patients after the respective treatments has not yet been examined. This study was
designed to evaluate the clinical outcome for patients who received iliac crest or
cage implantations.
Material and Methods Forty-six patients with traumatic fractures after they obtained an anterior fusion
in the thoracic or lumbar spine (12 cages; mean age: 54.08 years; 34 pelvic bone grafts;
mean age: 42.18 years) were asked to participate in the survey using a precast questionnaire
according the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Spine Score. Twenty-nine of them provided
the data requested.
Results Evaluation of the VAS scores of the patients, reporting at least 1 year after the
surgery, revealed that cage implantations led to significantly better results with
respect to all aspects of their daily life such as pain sensing, capability to undertake
physical activities and exercise as compared with patients with autologous pelvic
bone graft. Patients with autologous pelvic bone graft treatment reported a particularly
poor overall satisfaction level concerning their long-term well-being.
Conclusions Patients with cage implantation reported a higher degree of long-term well-being.
The data provide evidence for a positive impact on the postsurgery quality of life
after cage implantation.
Keywords
clinical outcome - spine surgery - cage implantation - autologous tricortical pelvic
bone graft
