Do the positioning variables of the cage contribute to adjacent facet joint degeneration? Radiological and clinical analysis following intervertebral fusion

This study investigates the relationship between the placement of interbody cages during spinal fusion surgery and the development of adjacent facet joint degeneration (AFD). AFD is a significant factor in adjacent segment disease (ASD), a common complication after spinal fusion. The research examines how the position of the cage, a device used to stabilize the spine during fusion, affects the risk of AFD. It also looks at clinical outcomes and patient-reported measures of pain and disability. The study found that a lower position of the cage center is associated with a higher probability of AFD. This suggests that the precise placement of the cage during surgery can influence the likelihood of developing this complication.

• 1
  Patients with AFD aggravation had significantly higher preoperative back pain VAS scores and postoperative ODI scores, indicating greater pain and disability.
• 2
  A lower cage center position was significantly associated with a greater probability of AFD, suggesting that cage placement influences the risk of joint degeneration.
• 3
  An increased coronal endplate diameter of the lower vertebrae was significantly associated with AFD.