Lumbar decompression and fusion in elderly osteoporotic patients: a prospective study using less rigid titanium rod fixation.

Type Of Study: A 2 to 4-year clinical and radiologic prospective study was conducted for 39 patients over the age of 65 treated by lumbar arthrodesis.

Objectives: Evaluate the quality of lumbar arthrodesis results in elderly patients, in which the bone osteoporosis (poor quality of the spine's anatomic components) and general factors (frequent comorbidity) are likely to make this surgery difficult if not dangerous and evaluate a dedicated instrumentation for osteoporotic bone.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine patients over 65 years of age (average 73 y) underwent arthrodesis surgery in 2001 and 2002 and were followed for at least 2 years.

Does spinal surgery improve the quality of life for those with extradural (spinal) osseous metastases? An international multicenter prospective observational study of 223 patients. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2007.

Object: Opinions vary widely as to the role of surgery (from none to wide margin excision) in the management of spinal metastases. In this study the authors set out to ascertain if surgery improves the quality of remaining life in patients with spinal metastatic and tumor-related systemic disease.

Methods: The authors included 223 patients in this study who were referred by oncologists and physicians over a 2-year period.