الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Lumbar interbody fusion procedures, such as posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), are performed commonly nowadays due to the high prevalence of degenerative spinal disorders. These procedures involve removing the disc material and cartilaginous end plates from the involved intervertebral disc space and filling up the void with a spacer to maintain disc height and to decompress the neural foramina.
The interbody fusion devices have varying geometric configurations and wall thicknesses and are made of various materials, such as titanium, PEEK, and other polymers. The choice of a particular interbody fusion device affects the ability of surgeons and radiologists to assess fusion progression on radiographs and CT scans.In addition to, postoperative complications that may arise from these particular devices.
This study aim was to determine the rate of vertebral osteolysis in 54 patients who underwent PLIF surgery, using PEEK cages. Follow up was at least 6 months. The concomitant diagnoses were discogenic stenosis, degeneratvie spondylolisthesis, isthmic spondylolisthesis, and Post-laminectomy instability.
According to 3D-CT scans, 59 segments (81%) were determined as completely fused, 8 segments (10.9%) showed pseudoarthrosis, and 6 segments (8.2%) as questionable fusion. On the other hand, 49 segments (67.2%) out of 73 showed no osteolysis, and 24 segments (32.8%) did show osteolysis. Out of these 24 segments, 14 of them were determined as grade 1 osteolysis, 4 segments as grade 2, and 6 segments as grade 3.
These results are comparable with other studies regarding the rate of vertebral osteolysis following the use of PEEK cages. In this study, the rate of vertebral osteolysis was less than similar studies in the literature reporting osteolysis after PEEK cages.