Long-term magnetic resonance imaging follow-up demonstrates minimal transitional level lumbar @entity1797 after posterior spine fusion for XXXX .

@entity1 @entity5788 @entity1643 @entity1615 @entity66 @entity1797 @entity1635 @entity179 @entity158 @entity528
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To describe long-term clinical and imaging results focusing on the uninstrumented lumbar spine after posterior spinal fusion for @entity1615 . SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although previous studies found rates of @entity1643 after long fusion for @entity1615 which are comparable to rates found in the general population, many surgeons believe that the long lever arm associated with the fusion mass will result in increased stress at uninstrumented caudal intervertebral discs and accelerated degenerative changes. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart and imaging review of @entity1615 @entity1 treated with posterior fusion and segmental instrumentation. @entity1 completed follow-up examination, outcome questionnaires, radiographs, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR images were scored for evidence of @entity528 of lumbar discs below the level of the fusion. RESULTS: Twenty @entity1 participated in the study, providing 90 discs below fusions for evaluation. The average follow-up was 11.8 years. The distal level of fixation was at L1 on average. The major curve averaged 55      11   before surgery and was corrected to 25      10   at follow-up. Follow-up MR imaging demonstrated new disc pathology in 85% of @entity1 enrolled. Only one @entity1 demonstrated significant @entity179 at the junctional level, whereas most pathology was seen at the L5-S1 disc. The average Pfirrmann grade at uninstrumented levels deteriorated from 1.1 before surgery to 1.8 at follow-up. The greatest degree of @entity528 was seen at the L5-S1 disc space where average degenerative scores increased from 1.2 before surgery to 2.3 after surgery. Three @entity1 with severe @entity66 were taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for @entity158 , but no narcotics. Only mild @entity1635 ( @entity1635 ) and Oswestry changes were noted in this severe @entity528 group. CONCLUSION: Despite demonstrating an accelerated rate of L5-S1 @entity1797 , our study group has good functional scores and maintenance of correction over 10 years postfusion. In this long-term MR imaging follow-up study, @entity1797 was found remote to the lowest instrumented @entity5788 .
