Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using polyetheretherketone oblique cages with and without a titanium coating: a randomised clinical pilot study.

Abstract

AIMS:

We compared the clinical and radiological outcomes of using a polyetheretherketone cage with (TiPEEK) and without a titanium coating (PEEK) for instrumented transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We conducted a randomised clinical pilot trial of 40 patients who were scheduled to undergo a TLIF procedure at one or two levels between L2 and L5. The Oswestry disability index (ODI), EuroQoL-5D, and back and leg pain were determined pre-operatively, and at three, six, and 12 months post-operatively. Fusion rates were assessed by thin slice CT at three months and by functional radiography at 12 months.

RESULTS:

At final follow-up, one patient in each group had been lost to follow-up. Two patients in each of the PEEK and TiPEEK groups were revised for pseudarthrosis (p = 1.00). The rate of complete or partial fusion at three months was 91.7% in both groups. Overall, there were no significant differences in ODI or in radiological outcomes between the groups.

CONCLUSION:

Favourable results with identical clinical outcomes and a high rate of fusion was seen in both groups. The titanium coating appears to have no negative effects on outcome or safety in the short term. A future study to determine the effect of titanium coating is warranted. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1366-72.

• Authors: M Rickert, C Fleege, T Tarhan, S Schreiner, M R Makowski, M Rauschmann, M Arabmotlagh
• Journal: The bone & joint journal (Bone Joint J) Vol. 99-B Issue 10 Pg. 1366-1372 (Oct 2017) ISSN: 2049-4408 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28963159 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: ©2017 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Chemical References

• Benzophenones
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible
• Ketones
• Polymers
• polyetheretherketone
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Titanium

Topics

• Aged
• Benzophenones
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Ketones
• Low Back Pain (surgery)
• Lumbar Vertebrae (surgery)
• Male
• Pilot Projects
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Polymers
• Prosthesis Design
• Spinal Fusion (instrumentation)
• Titanium
• Treatment Outcome