The Effect of Pedicle Screw/Plate Fixation on Lumbar/Lumbosacral Autogenous Bone Graft Fusions in Patients With Degenerative Disc Disease

Abstract

A statistical analysis showed that patients with degenerative disc disease who underwent fusion without pedicle screw instrumentation were over 24 times more likely to have a pseudarthrosis than comparable patients implanted with a pedicle screw/plate system. Regarding the most important goal in performing a spinal fusion--fusion of the spine--the pedicle screw/plate system used in this study was shown to be a safe and efficacious method of facilitating fusion with autogenous bone graft for this patient population.