[Surgery for degenerative lumbar disc disease. Should the black disc be grafted?].

Abstract

Anterior fusion is effective for the treatment of low-back pain due to degenerative disc disease, when associated to vertebral plate changes; as the pathology is mainly anterior. We prefer an anterior mini-invasive approach; furthermore, posterior elements are intact and canal exploration is unnecessary. However, an additional posterior osteosynthesis is preferable in Modic type II, as non union rate is increased by fatty degenerative involution.