SEMI-RIGID STABILISATION OF THE LUMBAR SPINE WITH DYNESYS – A 4 YEAR PATIENT ORIENTATED FOLLOW-UP

Abstract

Purpose of study: The aim of this study was to evaluate patient-orientated outcome of spinal dynesys fixation used for low back pain and also the re-operation rate in a retrospective review of 25 cases with an average follow-up period of four years.

Materials and Methods: A total of 25 patients who had undergone semi-rigid fixation of the lumbar spine with the Dynesys system in the Chase Farm Spinal Unit between November 2001 and March 2003 were reviewed.

Results: Two patients required removal of implant and revision to solid fusion. Both were one year post Dynesys instrumentation. All other patients had their original Dynesys implant in situ at latest follow-up. Two patients were referred to a pain specialist for further management. The mean Oswestry score pre-operatively and 4.4 year post operatively were 57.2 and 37.52 respectively. The mean VAS pre op was 9.32 and post op it was 5.04.

Conclusion: Dynamic stabilisation certainly continues to remain an attractive alternative to rigid stabilisation and the few retrospective and laboratory studies that exist in the current literature reveal results which are comparable with rigid fixation.

Discussion: Though te results were promising we think a large multicentre prospective studies are required to truly enable us to evaluate the efficacy of dynamic stabilisation. This study contributes towards furthering our understanding of this complex subject.

Ethics approval: None

Interest Statement: None