Observational studyMedicine2018
A UK-based pilot study of current surgical practice and implant preferences in lumbar fusion surgery.
Observational study in Medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of fusion rate enhancements and bone graft options for spine surgery.Scientific reports · 2022Pooled it
- Advancements in biomaterials and bioactive solutions for lumbar spine fusion cages: Current trends and future perspectives.Bioactive materials · 2025Review
- Transforaminal versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion for symptomatic single-level spondylolisthesis (LIFT): a multicentre controlled, patient blinded, randomised non-inferiority trial.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2024Article
- Management of Massive Flank Hernia After Lateral Lumbar Fusion: Preoperative Botulinum Toxin Injections and Open Repair - A Case Report.The American journal of case reports · 2024Article
- Intraoperative Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Navigation Versus 2-Dimensional Fluoroscopy in Single-Level Lumbar Spinal Fusion: A Comparative Analysis.Neurospine · 2024Article
- Predictors of poor outcome following lumbar spinal fusion surgery: a prospective observational study to derive two clinical prediction rules using British Spine Registry data.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023Observational
- Obesity: An Independent Risk Factor for Complications in Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion? A Systematic Review.Global spine journal · 2022Article
- Metallic Implants Used in Lumbar Interbody Fusion.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Endplate volumetric bone mineral density biomechanically matched interbody cage.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2022Article
- Lateral lumbar interbody fusion in adult spine deformity - A review of literature.Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma · 2021Review
- Rates, costs, return to work and reoperation following spinal surgery in a workers' compensation cohort in New South Wales, 2010-2018: a cohort study using administrative data.BMC health services research · 2021Article
- Freeze-Dried Secretome (Lyosecretome) from Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Promotes the Osteoinductive and Osteoconductive Properties of Titanium Cages.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Article
- Superior Osteo-Inductive and Osteo-Conductive Properties of Trabecular Titanium vs. PEEK Scaffolds on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Proof of Concept for the Use of Fusion Cages.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Article
- Trends in lumbar spinal fusion-a literature review.Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) · 2020Review
- Article
- "Insert flipping technique:" An effective way of restoring segmental lordosis and disc height with tall bullet cages.Journal of craniovertebral junction & spineArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Lumbar fusion surgery is an established procedure for the treatment of low back pain. Despite the wide set of alternative fusion techniques and existing devices, uniform guidelines are not available yet and common surgical trends are scarcely investigated.The purpose of this UK-based study was to provide a descriptive portrait of current surgeons' practice and implant preferences in lumbar fusion surgery.A UK-based in-person survey was designed for this study and submitted to a group of consultant spinal surgeons (n = 32). Fifteeen queries were addressed based on different aspects of surgeons' practice: lumbar fusion techniques, implant preferences, and bone grafting procedures. Answers were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics.Thirty-two consultant spinal surgeons completed the survey. There was clear consistency on the relevance of a patient-centered management (82.3%), along with a considerable variability of practice on the preferred fusion approach. Fixation surgery was found to be largely adopted (96.0%) and favored over stand-alone cages. With regards to the materials, titanium cages were the most used (54.3%). The geometry of the implants influenced the choice of lumbar cages (81.3%). Specifically, parallel-shape cages were mostly avoided (89.2%) and hyperlordotic cages were preferred at the lower lumbar levels. However, there was no design for lumbar cages which was consistently favored. Autograft bone graft surgeries were the most common (60.0%). Amongst the synthetic options, hydroxyapatite-based bone graft substitutes (76.7%) in injectable paste form (80.8%) were preferred.Current lumbar fusion practice is variable and patient-oriented. Findings from this study highlight the need for large-scale investigative surveys and clinical studies aimed to set specific guidelines for certain pathologies or patient categories.
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Registered trials
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.