Joseph Smucker Author

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Adjacent Level Degeneration in the Lumbar Spine after Single-Level Fusion versus Arthroplasty: Five-Year Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes

Author(s):

Barrett Boody, Brett Rosenthal, Evan N Lee, Joseph Smucker and Rick C Sasso

Study Design: Retrospective review of a prospective, randomized, controlled single-site investigation of an FDA IDE trial. Objective: Compare baseline and 5 year adjacent disc degeneration and outcomes of lumbar arthroplasty and fusion groups. Summary of background data: Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) has historically been surgically managed with arthrodesis. However, fusion treatment is associated with accelerated adjacent segment degeneration. Method: Patients completed pre and post-operative Oswestry Disability Index and Visual Analog Scale as well as radiographic studies out to 5 years postoperatively. Adjacent (cephalad) disc height was measured by 6 examiners using the Farfan index on radiographs blinded to caudal level treatment. After exclusion of p... view more»

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