Osteolysis following resorbable poly--lactide-co-, -lactide PLIF cage use: a review of cases
Andrew Frost, Elmanzour Bagouri, Mark Brown, Vinay Jasani
March 2012, Volume 21, Issue 3, pp 449 - 454 Original Article Read Full Article 10.1007/s00586-011-2002-4
First Online: 01 September 2011
Study design
Report of case series
Objective
To report a problem with bioabsorbable poly-l-lactide-co-d, l-lactide, PLDLLA, posterior lumbar instrumented fusion (PLIF) cage implants.
Summary of background data
Synthetic bioabsorbable implants have recently been introduced to spinal surgery and their indications and applications are still being explored. There is evidence that the use of bioabsorbable cages may be of benefit in interbody spinal fusion.
Methods
We present a case series of nine patients who have undergone PLIF with bioabsorbable cages in the lumbar spine.
Results
At follow-up over at least 1 year, four of these patients were found to have osteolysis around the implant on CT scanning. One of these patients underwent an operation to remove the cage and histology sent during surgery suggested that the implant had caused the bone loss and there was no evidence of infection. Another patient had ongoing pain in relation to the lysis, while the other two patients with lysis remained asymptomatic.
Conclusions
PLDLLA cage, which has high osteolytic nature, is considered not suitable as a fusion cage.
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