The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Nov 2001
Failure of external spinal skeletal fixation to improve predictability of lumbar arthrodesis.
Whether lumbar arthrodesis can relieve isolated low-back pain in the absence of focal neurological findings or instability is unclear. The results of published studies are also inconsistent with regard to whether temporary back-pain relief with external spinal skeletal fixation can predict lasting back-pain relief after arthrodesis. This report presents the results, with regard to clinical benefit and complications, of more than 100 external spinal skeletal fixation procedures undertaken as a prelude to lumbar arthrodesis. ⋯ On the basis of this analysis, external spinal skeletal fixation should not be used as a predictor of pain relief after lumbar arthrodesis.