Spinal bone density following spinal fusion.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Spinal bone densities were assessed in 25 patients following lumbar fusion and bracing, in an attempt to study bone remodeling by noninvasive methods. Dual-photon densitometry was used to study specific areas of autologous bone grafts and adjacent vertebrae above the fusion mass. Measurements were made preoperatively and at 6-week intervals postoperatively. The data for the first 12 months postoperatively are reported here. In all patients there was at first a consistent loss in density in the vertebrae above the fusion mass, averaging 15.7%. This was followed by a gradual density increase such that by 1 year postoperatively, in 60% of the subjects, the density of these vertebrae was higher than the preoperative level. In the grafted areas, bone changes were cyclical, demonstrating a remodeling pattern consistent with that described in animal literature for graft healing and also consistent with modern bone remodeling theory. There was a general tendency toward a gradual increase in the density of the fusion mass.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lipscomb, HJ; Grubb, SA; Talmage, RV
Published Date
- April 1989
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 14 / 4
Start / End Page
- 477 - 479
PubMed ID
- 2655115
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0362-2436
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1097/00007632-198904000-00028
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States