III-4   The Impact of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound ( XXXX ) on Spinal Fusion After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) Procedure.

@entity1 @entity258 @entity179
PURPOSE: The goal of spinal fusion in the reconstructive spinal surgery is to achieve solid bony fusion between vertebral segments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of @entity258 ( @entity258 ) in enhancing fusion rate and bone formation after one-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). METHODS: One-level PLIF procedure was performed in the @entity1 with @entity179 spinal stenosis between L1/2 and L5/S. Total 210 subjects were enrolled in this study prospectively, and randomly divided into 2 groups with @entity258 treatment after surgery (L-group), and without @entity258 treatment (NL-group). The @entity1 in L-group underwent @entity258 treatment over the fusion level every day until 6 months after surgery. At week 24 and 48, the images obtained by X-ray and Dynamic computer tomography (flexion-extension CT) were evaluated. The state of bone union was classified from grade 1 (fusion) to grade 4 (non-union) in both evaluations. RESULTS: Finally 83 @entity1 in L-group and 86 @entity1 in NL-group were analyzed. According to X-ray images, 30 @entity1 (39%) in L-group and 29 @entity1 (37%) in NL-group were evaluated as grade 1 at 24 weeks after surgery, then 61 @entity1 (74%) in L-group and 55 @entity1 (66%) in NL-group at 48 weeks. While according to flexion-extension CT images, 33 @entity1 (47%) in L-group and 36 @entity1 (51%) in NL-group were evaluated as grade 1 at 24 weeks, then 51 @entity1 (70%) in L-group and 42 @entity1 (63%) in NL-group at 48 weeks. L-group showed higher fusion rate based on both radiographic and CT evaluation at 48 weeks, although the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: @entity258 therapy may promote successful fusion after spinal interbody fusion.
