Radiological outcomes of 360° lumbar fusion in patients with Modic changes

Introduction A cascade of degenerative spine changes affects the structures including vertebral endplates and bodies of adjacent vertebrae that can be visualized on MRI imaging as Modic changes. The aim of the study was to assess the role of changes in the endplates and adjacent vertebral bodies in radiological results of monosegmental posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in patients with degenerative lesions of the spine. Material and methods The design of the study was a monocenter retrospective comparative cohort study. The radiological results of PLIF performed in combination with transpedicular screw fixation for 122 patients with Modic changes in adjacent endplates and adjacent vertebral bodies were evaluated for interbody fusion, subsidence of interbody implants, segmental angle, interbody space height. The followup period was 1-2 years. Results Complete interbody fusion was seen in 94.4 % of Modic type 0 and in 77.3 % of Modic type II changes. Interbody cage subsidence occurred in 38.9 % Modic type I, 22.7 % in Modic type II, 9.1 % in Modic type III and in 11.3 % Modic type 0 changes. A significant decrease in the segmental angle was found in all types of Modic changes (p function show_eabstract() { $('#eabstract1').hide(); $('#eabstract2').show(); $('#eabstract_expand').hide(); }