[PLIF and ALIF for the degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine].

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the course of disease of patients with a degenerative instability of the lumbar spine after PLIF or ALIF.

Materials and methods: Between October 1995 and January 2000 115 patients underwent a ventral or dorsal spondylodesis due to a degenerative instability in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin Hospital and in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Friedrichshain Hospital in Berlin. At an average of 25 (13-64) months after surgery these patients were followed up in a clinical examination and a questionnaire concerning their sense of pain and quality of life.

Results: Significant improvement after surgery has been shown in both groups. The recovery rate was 52 % which is a beneficial result. The fusion rate was 91 %. The postoperative sense of pain declined with regard to the visual pain scale. The intake of analgetics decreased in a quantitative as well as in a qualitative way. With 94 % the acceptance of the operation was comparatively high. The number of complications was low in comparison with the literature (4 %). There was no operative lethality.

Conclusions: With regard to the indications and contraindications the PLIF as well as the ALIF is accepted unquestioningly as an up-to-date method.