Spinal Arthroplasty - Rob Sneath 7/1/2002

Brief

         Quint                   Eur Spine J                   1998

Authors

U. Quint, H.J. Wilke, F. Loer and L. Claes

Title

Laminectomy and functional impairment of the lumbar spine: the importance of muscle forces in flexible and rigid instrumented stabilisation - a biomechanical study

Reference

Eur Spine J 1998;7:229-238

Summary

Biomechanical study investigating the effects of destabilising a healthy spine and the influence of muscle forces.

Critique

Very extensive. Laminectomy was complete, removing both facet joints completely. All the studies looked at the L4 level only.

Brief

          Cinotti                     Spine                         1996

Authors

G. Cinotti, T. David and F. Postacchini

Title

Results of Disc Prosthesis after a minimum follow-up of 2 years

Reference

Spine 1996;21(8):995-1000

Summary

Retrospective study of 46 patients after one or two level artificial disc replacement (Charitè SB III) with average follow up of 3.2 years. Overall success rate 63% (compared with published arthrodesis rates of 65-93%)

Critique

Results improved further down learning curve and with improved patient selection - patients who did well tended to be those who had no previous surgery and those needing one level replacing only

Brief

       Hadlow                     Spine                         1998