Background: Spinal stenosis is defined as narrowing in the spinal canal or neural foramina, and this can cause compression on the spinal cord, cauda equina or individual nerve roots. It may be congenital or acquired. The acquired one is much more common and can result from facet osteoarthritis, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, degenerative bulging disc or osteophyte formation.

Studies show that conservative management might be successful in 70-90% of patients.

Aim: The aim of this work was to assess the early results of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using single TLIF PEEK cage in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disorders.

Patients and Methods: This prospective study included 20 patients with lumber disc prolapse or lumbar spinal stenosis treated surgically with posterior lumber interbody fusion (PLIF) using single PEEK TLIF cage. Instability, post-laminectomy syndrome and cases with haematogenous infection were excluded from this study. All surgeries were performed at El-Hadara University Hospital, Alex, Egypt. Patients were followed up at for at least 6 months. Informed consent were taken from all patients. A single TLIF cage filled with local bone graft was inserted. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for back and leg pain.

Results: At the end of the follow up period, 8 patients (40%) had excellent results, resuming unrestricted activity, near complete relief of pain in the back, lower limbs or both. Ten patients (50%) had good results, resuming unrestricted activity, significant improvement in pain with only occasional discomfort in the back or lower limbs, necessitating non-narcotic medication. Two patients (10%) had fair results showing restriction of activities, some improvement but still had intermittent discomfort in the back and lower limbs, needing sometimes non-narcotic medication.

Conclusion: All cases after PLIF using single PEEK cage showed adequate fusion.

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Walid El Nawawy

Department of Orthopedics Surgery and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria