Abstract

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common degenerative disease of the spine in the elderly population. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is increasingly being used to achieve 360° fusion and allow adequate intervertebral foraminal height restoration for neural decompression while maintaining posterior supportive structures. The purpose of the study was to know the functional outcome of PLIF with cage in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
Methodology: The study was performed by using retrospective longitudinal study design with 16 patients who had undergone PLIF procedure with cage at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar, within the period of December 2015–September 2017, with the follow-up time of 6–12 months postoperatively. All patients were evaluated using pain scale assessment and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
Results: There were improvements in pain scale and functional outcome of patients before and after the operation. The 6-months postoperative ODI was significantly lower than the pre-operative index, as it decreased to 43.7%. The 12-months postoperative ODI rate was as well significantly lower with a decrease of 85.6%. The 12-months postoperative ODI was significantly lower than the 6-months postoperative ODI with a decrease of 74.5%.
Conclusion: There was an improvement of functional outcome after the PLIF procedure with cage in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Key words: Lumbar spinal stenosis, Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF), cage, functional outcome