Clinical outcome and complication rate after posterior arthrodesis of the lumbar spine: Are there age-related differences? A comparative study

Abstract

Objectives:

Lumbar arthrodesis is a frequently performed intervention to treat several spinal disorders like degenerative or instable conditions. According to the demographic trend, more and more elderly patients are expected to become candidates for any kind of surgical procedures including operations of the spine. In case of more complex operations like fusion a higher risk potential in older persons could be assumed. The goal of our study was to analyze the clinical results after lumbar fusion and to find out, if there are differences in the outcome and complication rate in patients divided in two age groups.

Methods:

100 patients who consecutively had lumbar arthrodesis because of degenerative or instable conditions were retrospectively studied after a minimum of 12 months with regard to their clinical outcome and the complication rate. Statistical analysis was performed to find out any significant differences in patients younger and older than 65 years.

Results:

In both patient groups we found neither any statistically significant difference in all clinical outcome scores except for two items of the SF-36 nor in the complication rate.

Conclusion:

Older age should not be the only criterion for exclusion for more extensive surgical procedures of the lumbar spine like arthrodesis.