Participants with lumbar spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, or trauma undergoing elective Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) were recruited. The follow-up period was 24 months for each participant. The eligible patients for this study should be above 18 years old with confirmed indication to TLIF through a posterior approach. Patients with an active infection, symptomatic osteoporosis, immature bone, pregnancy, active malignancy, and previous radiotherapy at the planned surgical site were excluded. Informed consent was signed by each participant before recruitment. We strictly followed the protocols of patient confidentiality and human subjects in the clinical trial implementation. The patients were blinded to the allocated surgical technique before the operation and during the follow-up period of two years. On the one hand, the doctor will assess the patient's physiological function recovery and imaging examinations (such as CT, MRI or X-ray) before and after the operation to understand the changes in the patient's pain index and the effect of intervertebral disc fusion after the operation; on the other hand, It also evaluates the quality of life and the degree of improvement of psychological emotions through the questionnaires of patients before and after surgery.
After receiving prophylactic antibiotics according to the local hospital protocol, the patients were generally anesthetized in a prone position. Paramedian or midline posterior sections were conducted, exposing the lumber vertebras encompassing the facet joints. The facet joints were removed, and decompression was performed. The diseased disc nucleus was then excised before filling in the bone substitutes. For the control group, the bone substitutes were filled in the disc space manually using a bone grafting funnel. In the case of device group, a novel filler tube with integrated threaded rod, which can be connected to a surgical drill, was used for rapid and continuous graft filling (Figure 1). A polyethyletherketone (PEEK) interbody fusion cage was then placed into the disc space followed by fixation with pedicle screws. The treatment efficacy was assessed by clinical analysis based on the visual analogue scale (VAS) for radicular pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire for low back pain. The VAS back and leg pain scores were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The ODI questionnaires were taken preoperatively and postoperatively at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The bone graft delivery volume and the filling time during the surgery were measured to compare the efficiency of the two approaches. The X-ray and computed tomography were performed prior to surgery and at 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-monthspost-surgery for bone fusion assessment. The degree of bone fusion was classified into three grades. Grade I was defined as a complete fusion, union case, and grade II and III was defined as a partial union and a non-union case, respectively. Bone fusion volume was further determined by three-dimensional reconstruction images using ITK-SNAP software
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
73
After receiving prophylactic antibiotics according to the local hospital protocol, the patients were generally anesthetized in a prone position. Paramedian or midline posterior sections were conducted, exposing the lumber vertebras encompassing the facet joints. The facet joints were removed, and decompression was performed. The diseased disc nucleus was then excised before filling in the bone substitutes. In the case of the device group, a novel filler tube with an integrated threaded rod, which can be connected to a surgical drill, A PEEK interbody fusion cage was then placed into the disc space followed by fixation with pedicle screws.
After receiving prophylactic antibiotics according to the local hospital protocol, the patients were generally anesthetized in a prone position. Paramedian or midline posterior sections were conducted, exposing the lumber vertebras encompassing the facet joints. The facet joints were removed, and decompression was performed. The diseased disc nucleus was then excised before filling in the bone substitutes. For the control group, the bone substitutes were filled in the disc space manually using a bone grafting funnel. A PEEK interbody fusion cage was then placed into the disc space followed by fixation with pedicle screws.
Change of back pain at 24 months from baseline as measured by a 100 mm VAS scale
The back pain intensity on 100-mm VAS will be performed and recorded at Day 1 (within 48 hours before surgery as the Baseline) and 24th month.
Time frame: Preoperation and 24month post operation
Change of function at 24 months from baseline as measured by the 100 points Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
The level of function on 100-point ODI will be performed and recorded at Day 1 (within 48 hours before surgery as the Baseline) and 24th month.
Time frame: Preoperation and 24month post operation
Fusion Rates
Fusion rates for each product as evidenced by bridging bone via x-ray radiograph
Time frame: 3, 6, 12, and 24 months
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