Unintentional Fusion in Preserved Facet Joints without Bone Grafting after Percutaneous Endoscopic Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Introduction

A percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PETLIF) procedure has been previously developed. During postoperative follow-up, in some patients, bone fusion occurred between opened facet joints, despite not having bone grafting in the facet joints. Here, we investigated facet fusion's frequency and tendencies following PETLIF.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on a prospectively collected, nonrandomized series of patients. Forty-two patients (6 males and 36 females, average age: 69.9 years) who underwent single-level PETLIF at our hospital from February 2016 to March 2019 were included in this study. Patients were assessed with lumbar X-ray images and computed tomography (CT) prior to, immediately after, and 1 year after surgery.

Results

Pseudarthrosis was not observed in any patients, and facet fusion was observed in 26 of 42 post-PETLIF patients (61.9%) by CT 1 year postoperatively. The average interfacet distance increased from 1.3 mm preoperatively to 4.5 mm postoperatively, and facet fusion was observed under the opened conditions of 3.8 mm at 1 year. Segmental lordotic angle of the fusion segment in the lumbar X-ray images was significantly larger in the facet fusion subgroup prior to surgery, immediately following surgery, and 1 year after surgery compared to the facet non-fusion group (p=0.02, p<0.01, p=0.01, respectively). There were no significant differences in patient background, correction loss of segmental lordosis, interfacet distance, or clinical score between the facet fusion and facet non-fusion subgroups.

Conclusions

Facet fusion was achieved over time within the facet joints that were opened through indirect decompression after PETLIF. We hypothesized that the preserved facet joints potentially became the base bed for spontaneous bone fusion due to the preserved facet joint capsule and surrounding soft tissue, which maintained cranio-caudal facet traffic and blood circulation in the facet joints. The complete preservation of the facet joints was a key advantage of minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion procedures.

Level of evidence

Level III

Risk Factor Analysis of Facet Fusion Following Cervical Lateral Mass Screw Fixation with a Minimum 1-Year Follow-up: Assessment of Maximal Insertional Screw Torque and Incidence of Loosening

Posterior stabilization is a common surgical procedure, which aims for rigid stabilization by facet fusion. Facet non-union has a potential risk of the screw loosening and malalignment. Although some authors have reported the influencing factors about screw loosening in the lumbar spine, there are few reports about the risk factor contributing to the facet non-union in the cervical spine. In all, 22 patients (78 facets and 122 screws) with degenerative cervical kyphosis or spondylolisthesis who underwent decompression and lateral mass screw (LMS) fixation were analyzed. Age, gender, smoking, bone mineral density (BMD), the degree of facet decortication with bone packing, and screw loosening were investigated as risk factors contributing to the facet non-union at each segmental fused level. Facet fusion rate was 85.9% (67/78 facets) and the incidence of loosening was 4.9% (6/122 screws, 4 patients). Insufficient facet decortication with bone packing is a significant risk factor of facet non-union (p <0.05, odds ratio: 26.5). All six loosened screws were associated with bony non-union of the facet and were located in the uppermost or lowermost vertebrae. Comparing loosened screws and stable screws, the average maximal insertional screw torque (MIT) was 9.8 cNm and 39.5 cNm, respectively (p <0.05). Additionally, the length of the stable screws was significantly longer versus the loosened screws (p <0.05). Lower MIT and shorter screw length located near the ends of the lateral mass may predict loosening, which can lead to facet non-union. Sufficient facet decortication with bone packing is one of the important factors contributing to the facet fusion.

Is lumbar facet fusion biomechanically equivalent to lumbar posterolateral onlay fusion?

OBJECTIVE This study was designed with the following research objectives: 1) to determine the efficacy of facet fusion with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) in an ovine lumbar facet fusion model; 2) to radiographically and histologically compare the efficacy of lumbar facet fusion with rhBMP-2/ACS to facet fusion with an iliac crest bone graft (ICBG); and 3) to biomechanically compare lumbar facet fusion with rhBMP-2/ACS to lumbar posterolateral fusion (PLF) with ICBG. METHODS The efficacies of the 3 treatments to induce fusion were evaluated in an instrumented ovine lumbar fusion model. Eight sheep had 10 cm³/side ICBG placed as an onlay graft for PLF at L2-3. At the adjacent L3-4 level, 0.5 cm³/side ICBG was placed for facet fusion. Finally, 0.5 cm³/side rhBMP-2/ACS (0.43 mg/ml) was placed for facet fusion at L4-5. CT scans were obtained at 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively with 2 reviewers conducting an evaluation of the 6-month results for all treated spinal levels. All 8 sheep were killed at 6 months, and all posterolateral instrumentation was removed at this time. The spines were then sectioned through L3-4 to allow for nondestructive unconstrained biomechanical testing of the L2-3 and L4-5 segments. All treated spinal levels were analyzed using undecalcified histology with corresponding microradiography. Statistical comparisons were made between the treatment groups. RESULTS The PLF with ICBG (ICBG PLF group) and the rhBMP-2 facet fusion (rhBMP-2 Facet group) treatment groups demonstrated similar levels of stiffness, with the rhBMP-2 Facet group having on average slightly higher stiffness in all 6 loading directions. All 8 levels in the autograft facet fusion treatment group demonstrated CT radiographic and histological fusion. All 8 levels in the rhBMP-2 Facet group showed bilateral CT radiographic and histological fusion. Six of 16 rhBMP-2/ACS-treated facet defects demonstrated small intraosseous hematomas or seromas. Four of the 8 levels (50%) in the ICBG PLF treatment group demonstrated bilateral histological fusion. Three of 8 levels in the ICBG PLF treatment group showed unilateral fusion. One of the 8 levels in the ICBG PLF treatment group demonstrated bilateral histological nonfusion. CONCLUSIONS Both rhBMP-2/ACS and autograft demonstrated 100% efficacy when used for facet fusion in the instrumented ovine model. However, the ICBG PLF treatment group only demonstrated a 50% bilateral fusion rate. Biomechanically, the ICBG PLF and rhBMP-2 Facet groups demonstrated similar stiffness in all 6 loading directions, with the rhBMP-2 Facet group having on average slightly higher stiffness in all directions.

An Algorithm to Predict Success of Indirect Decompression Using the Extreme Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Procedure

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to define an algorithm that will predict the success of indirect decompression without the need for direct decompression in patients undergoing lateral lumbar interbody fusions.

Methods and Materials: A prospective cohort study was undertaken for patients undergoing indirect decompression with lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Patients had to meet the following criteria prior to indirect fusion: lack of facet fusion on CT, absence of free disc fragment or compressive facet joint cyst on MRI, absence of frank osteoporosis, lack of congenital and/or severe spinal stenosis on MRI, and significant reduction (greater than 50%) in leg and back pain at rest. We then assessed which patients at follow-up required a second stage open decompression procedure because of continued back and/or leg pain.  

Results: Our series included 28 patients who underwent indirect decompression with extreme lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Of the 28 patients, one patient required a second stage open decompression at follow-up. The most common level operated on was the L4-L5 level. Twelve patients underwent more than a single level fusion. Average preoperative lumbar lordosis was 29 degrees and average postoperative lordosis was 45 degrees. The average patient age was 66.3 years and average follow-up was 1.21 years.  

Conclusions: Our algorithm can be used as an aid to assess which patients may benefit from indirect decompression alone, compared to indirect decompression combined with posterior decompression procedures.