Results of Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Brantigan I/F Cage

This study reviewed an over one-year follow-up results of 18 cases who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion with Brantigan I/F cage. The clinical success was defined according to Hirabayashi's scale. 9 cases were categorized as excellent, 4 cases as good, 2 cases as fair, and the remaining 3 cases as poor. Plane X-ray radiographs revealed bone union in 18 out of 20 levels (union rate 90.0%), and non-union in only one level. The remaining cases could be concluded as neither union nor non-union because of interrueted bone trabeculae. Assessment results of X-ray radiographs were most or less satisfactory and correction loss was not observed.X-rays of some patients treated for degenerative spondylolisthesis showed carbon fiber cages buried deep in the upper vertebral bodies. A reaming device could be slipped onto the edges of the lower vertebral bodies, so pre-shaving them would be important. It is important that the autologous bone graft harvested from the lamina by laminectomy be unrelated with any donor site pain from the ilium. However it should be borne in mind that of MOB patients have poor bone quality after the autologous bone graft, the possibility of non-union is high. We concluded that the Brantigan I/F cage is an useful implant, but certain characteristics should be clarified for clinical and union success.