Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40299014›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2025

Loosening of stand-alone ALIF versus TLIF in degenerated lumbar human spines: an in vitro biomechanical study.

Alina Jacob, Nicolas Ion, Bogdan Bocea, Ivan Zderic, Boyko Gueorguiev, Christian Rainer Wirtz, Tamás F Fekete, R Geoff Richards, Maximilian Heumann, Daniel Haschtmann and 1 more

Abstract readComparative Study
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In one paragraph

Article in 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, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Risk factors for pedicle screw loosening: a comprehensive review.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025
    Review
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

11 authors.

Alina JacobAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland. alinajacob20.04@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-7241-741X
Nicolas IonAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0008-2143-1797
Bogdan BoceaAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.
Ivan ZdericAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-0484-887X
Boyko GueorguievAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-9795-115X
Christian Rainer WirtzUniversity Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-8358-1813
Tamás F FeketeSchulthess-Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-5231-5600
R Geoff RichardsAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-7778-2480
Maximilian HeumannAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-9298-1923
Daniel HaschtmannSchulthess-Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-0437-8521
Markus LoiblSchulthess-Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-7631-0476

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeBiomechanical investigation is needed to determine whether stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion with integrated screws (ALIF) is advisable for use in elderly patients. This study aimed to test three null hypotheses: (1) cyclic loading does not cause loosening of ALIF in degenerated lumbar specimens, (2) cyclic loading does not cause loosening in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in degenerated lumbar specimens, and (3) Neutral Zone (NZ) and Range of motion (ROM) of ALIF and TLIF do not differ after cyclic loading.

methodsTwelve fresh-frozen human cadaveric lumbar motion segments (L1-5, donors' age 76.1 ± 6.7 years; trabecular BMD 97.1 ± 36.9 mgHA/cm

resultsCyclic loading significantly increased NZ of ALIF specimens in Flex-Ext (1.69 ± 1.81°, p =.048) and LB (1.84 ± 1.81°, p =.036), and showed a trend to significance in AR (0.46 ± 0.54°, p =.065). NZ of TLIF specimens did not increase significantly in any motion direction (p ≥.112). ROM and NZ did not differ significantly between ALIF and TLIF in post-cyclic states(p ≥.556).

conclusionAxial compression loading caused significant loosening of ALIF in Flex-Ext and LB, but not of TLIF in degenerated lumbar human cadaveric specimens. Hence, standalone ALIF cannot be recommended without reservation for the use in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spines. However, the absolute differences between pre- and post-cyclic states were small, and ROM and NZ of ALIF after cyclic loading were comparable to TLIF.

Indexed as

Bone ScrewsIntervertebral Disc DegenerationLumbar VertebraeSpinal FusionAgedAged, 80 and overBiomechanical PhenomenaCadaverFemaleHumansMaleRange of Motion, ArticularWeight-BearingALIFBiomechanicsLooseningRange of motionTLIF

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Registered trials

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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.