Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41666870›Full record

ArticleNeurospine2026

Disuse Bone Loss in Fusion Constructs After Multilevel Lumbar Fusion: A Computed Tomography Hounsfield Unit Analysis.

Hyun-Jun Jang, Dongkyu Kim, Bong-Ju Moon, Kyung-Hyun Kim, Jeong-Yoon Park, Sung-Uk Kuh, Keun-Su Kim, Dong-Kyu Chin

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In one paragraph

Article in Neurospine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hyun-Jun JangDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Dongkyu KimDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Bong-Ju MoonDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung-Hyun KimDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jeong-Yoon ParkDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sung-Uk KuhDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Keun-Su KimDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Dong-Kyu ChinDepartment of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate long-term bone quality changes within the fusion construct (FC) after 2- to 3-level lumbar fusion using computed tomography (CT)-derived Hounsfield units (HUs).

methodsAmong 520 screened patients, 222 who underwent 2- to 3-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion met the inclusion criteria. HU values were measured on CT scans preoperatively, at 1-year postoperative, and at final follow-up. The percentage change in HU (HU [final-pre]%) was calculated for each vertebral level.

resultsAt the final follow-up, the FC demonstrated a significant decline in HU compared to preoperative values (median [10th-90th percentile], 132.0 [86.5-220.4]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 116.0-142.5 vs. 124.5 [71.0- 210.0]; 109.8-135.1; HU (final-pre)%: -11.0 [-62.0 to 48.5]; -19.9 to -6.1; p<0.001). In contrast, HU increased significantly at the uppermost instrumented vertebra (HU (final-pre)%: median [10th-90th percentile], 28.3 [-19.9 to 102.9]; 95% CI, 21.1-36.4; p<0.001), likely reflecting increased mechanical demands. Subgroup analysis revealed a more pronounced decline in HU in patients with longer follow-up durations, particularly in the FC group (p=0.003).

conclusionCT-derived HU revealed progressive trabecular bone loss within FC over time after lumbar fusion. In patients with longer postoperative intervals, clinicians should remain aware of the potential weakening of the FC, which has important implications when considering implant removal or planning revision surgery.

Indexed as

Bone mineral densityComputed tomographyFusion constructHounsfield unitLumbar fusion surgeryStress shielding

Identifiers

PMID41666870
PMCPMC12890317

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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.