After institutional review board approval (CE-AVEC 208/2022/Oss/IOR), a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent posterior, open lumbar or lumbosacral decompression and fusion for degenerative disc disease between November 2005 and November 2020 in our institution was conducted. Indications for fusion in our institution were as follows: chronic low back pain with clinical signs of instability; radiographically proven dynamic instability; degenerative spondylolisthesis; central stenosis; significant reduction of disc height; facet degeneration and/or subluxation.
Patients with preoperative degenerative scoliosis (coronal deformity >10° Cobb), flat back, preoperative sagittal imbalance (Sagittal Vertical Axis >5 cm) or coronal imbalance (Coronal Vertical Axis > 2.5 cm) were excluded.
Other exclusion criteria were decompression alone, previous spinal surgeries, a diagnosis other than degenerative lumbar spine disease, lack of preoperative MRI or complete medical records of the hospitalization, less than 24 months of follow-up.
Patients with preoperative degenerative scoliosis (coronal deformity >10° Cobb), flat back, preoperative sagittal imbalance (Sagittal Vertical Axis >5 cm) or coronal imbalance (Coronal Vertical Axis > 2.5 cm) were excluded.
Other exclusion criteria were decompression alone, previous spinal surgeries, a diagnosis other than degenerative lumbar spine disease, lack of preoperative MRI or complete medical records of the hospitalization, less than 24 months of follow-up.
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