Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26907877›Full record

SynthesisInternational orthopaedics2016

Interspinous spacers versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative lumbar spinal diseases: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Yifeng Cai, Jiaquan Luo, Junjun Huang, Chengjie Lian, Hang Zhou, Hao Yao, Peiqiang Su

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International orthopaedics, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion versus interspinous stabilization in lumbar spinal stenosis: a meta-analysis.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. SPINAL SPECIAL EDITION EDITORIAL.International orthopaedics · 2016
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Yifeng CaiZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Jiaquan LuoDepartment of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Junjun HuangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Chengjie LianDepartment of Orthopaedics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
Hang ZhouDepartment of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Hao YaoZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Peiqiang SuDepartment of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. supq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Sun Yat-sen University · CNSun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital · CNThe First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeOur aim is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of interspinous spacers versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for degenerative lumbar spinal diseases.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library through September 2015. Included studies were performed according to eligibility criteria. Data of complication rate, post-operative back visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, length of hospital stay (LOS), range of motion (ROM) at the surgical, proximal and distal segments were extracted and analyzed.

resultsTen studies were selected from 177 citations. The pooled data demonstrated the interspinous spacers group had a lower estimated blood loss (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -175.66 ml; 95 % confidence interval [CI], -241.03 to -110.30; p < 0.00001), shorter operative time (WMD: -55.47 min; 95%CI, -74.29 to -36.65; p < 0.00001), larger range of motion (ROM) at the surgical segment (WMD: 3.97 degree; 95%CI, -3.24 to -1.91; p < 0.00001) and more limited ROM at the proximal segment (WMD: -2.58 degree; 95%CI, 2.48 to 5.47; p < 0.00001) after operation. Post-operative back VAS score, ODI score, length of hospital stay, complication rate and ROM at the distal segment showed no difference between the two groups.

conclusionsOur meta-analysis suggested that interspinous spacers appear to be a safe and effective alternative to PLIF for selective patients with degenerative lumbar spinal diseases. However, more randomized controlled trials (RCT) are still needed to further confirm our results.

Indexed as

HumansLength of StayLumbar VertebraeOperative TimePostoperative ComplicationsRange of Motion, ArticularSpinal FusionSpondylosisTreatment OutcomeDegenerative lumbar spinal diseasesInterspinous spacerMeta-analysisPLIF

Identifiers

PMID26907877
OpenAlexW2277168928

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.