Abstract
In 2000 the Ulrich ALIF cage for lumbar surgery was introduced. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of this new implant device by determining fusion rate, cost and complications.
Twenty patients undergoing anterior spinal surgery for failed posterior fusions were offered the option of receiving the implant device and entered into this prospective study. In all patients, the approach was either anterior retroperitoneal or left lateral retroperitoneal. The procedures were done under C-arm control. The mean operating time was 80 minutes. Blood loss was less than 400 ml. Mobilised the day after surgery, all patients used a soft lumbosacral brace for at least six weeks. Follow-up radiographs were taken on the third postoperative day and at six and 12 weeks.
The large bone graft surface of the cage allows excellent bone grafting and radiological visualisation. We encountered no complications related to the cage. One case of anterior subluxation of 1 cm occurred when a patient stumbled on the third day after surgery.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
