Dynamic vs. Rigid: Transforming the Treatment Landscape for Multisegmental Lumbar Degeneration
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Patient Selection Criteria
- Age ≥ 45 years;
- Radiologically confirmed multisegmental lumbar degenerative disease involving at least seven motion segments, demonstrated on MRI and standing whole-spine radiographs;
- Presence of chronic low-back pain lasting > 6 months with or without associated neurogenic claudication or radicular symptoms;
- Failure of at least 6 months of conservative management, including physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), epidural steroid injections, and activity modification;
- Demonstrable dynamic instability on flexion–extension X-rays or instability evidenced by CT (e.g., facet joint fluid, vacuum phenomena, subchondral sclerosis);
- Functional impairment with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) ≥ 30% preoperatively;
- A minimum postoperative follow-up of 24 months.
- Flexion–extension radiographs demonstrating sagittal translation > 3 mm or segmental angulation > 10° between vertebrae, consistent with established instability criteria;
- CT findings suggestive of segmental instability, such as vacuum phenomena within the intervertebral disc or facet joints, subchondral sclerosis, and hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum;
- MRI indicators, including hyperintensity or effusion within facet joints and Modic changes at endplates adjacent to the degenerated disc.
2.2. Surgical Technique
2.3. Clinical and Radiological Follow Up
2.4. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
- Dynesys group: Thread breakage occurred in 2/27 patients (7.4%);
- Rigid group: Instrument failure in 2/26 (7.7%), ASD in 6/26 (23.1%), pseudoarthrosis in 2/26 (7.7%), infection in 1/26 (3.8%), and 1 case (3.8%) of postoperative neurological deficit.
4. Discussion
5. Limitations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Dynamic Stabilization Group (50.94%) | Rigid Stabilization Group (49.05%) | p-Value | |
---|---|---|---|
Gender (male/female) | 19/8 | 12/14 | |
Age (years) | 64.26 ± 15.48 | 60.24 ± 15.52 | 0.367 |
Follow up (months) | 30.25 | 43.41 | <0.05 |
Surgical levels | |||
7 | 7 | 6 | |
8 | 6 | 7 | |
9 | 6 | 6 | |
10 | 8 | 7 |
Time Point | Dynesys Group (Mean ± SD) | Rigid Stabilization Group (Mean ± SD) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|
Preoperative | 7.4 ± 1.2 | 7.5 ± 1.3 | 0.772 |
3 Months Postop | 3.1 ± 2.0 | 3.0 ± 1.9 | 0.853 |
6 Months Postop | 2.6 ± 1.8 | 2.7 ± 1.7 | 0.836 |
12 Months Postop | 2.2 ± 1.5 | 2.4 ± 1.6 | 0.641 |
24 Months Postop | 1.9 ± 1.4 | 2.1 ± 1.5 | 0.618 |
Time Point | Dynesys Group (Mean ± SD) | Rigid Stabilization Group (Mean ± SD) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|
Preoperative | 45 ± 10 | 46 ± 11 | 0.731 |
3 Months Postop | 25 ± 15 | 26 ± 14 | 0.803 |
6 Months Postop | 22 ± 14 | 23 ± 13 | 0.788 |
12 Months Postop | 18 ± 12 | 19 ± 12 | 0.763 |
24 Months Postop | 16 ± 11 | 17 ± 12 | 0.753 |
Parameter | Dynesys Group (n = 27) | Rigid Stabilization Group (n = 26) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|
Total Surgery Time (min) | 180 ± 35 (combined stages) | 230 ± 40 | 0.002 |
Blood Loss (mL) | 350 ± 80 (combined) | 520 ± 110 | 0.001 |
Hospital Stay (days) | 5.8 ± 1.2 (cumulative) | 7.3 ± 1.5 | 0.003 |
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Gunerbuyuk, C.; Akgun, M.Y.; Durmus, N.; Ucar, E.A.; Orak, H.I.; Oktenoglu, T.; Ates, O.; Akgul, T.; Ozer, A.f. Dynamic vs. Rigid: Transforming the Treatment Landscape for Multisegmental Lumbar Degeneration. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 5472. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155472
Gunerbuyuk C, Akgun MY, Durmus N, Ucar EA, Orak HI, Oktenoglu T, Ates O, Akgul T, Ozer Af. Dynamic vs. Rigid: Transforming the Treatment Landscape for Multisegmental Lumbar Degeneration. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(15):5472. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155472
Chicago/Turabian StyleGunerbuyuk, Caner, Mehmet Yigit Akgun, Nazenin Durmus, Ege Anil Ucar, Helin Ilkay Orak, Tunc Oktenoglu, Ozkan Ates, Turgut Akgul, and Ali fahir Ozer. 2025. "Dynamic vs. Rigid: Transforming the Treatment Landscape for Multisegmental Lumbar Degeneration" Journal of Clinical Medicine 14, no. 15: 5472. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155472
APA StyleGunerbuyuk, C., Akgun, M. Y., Durmus, N., Ucar, E. A., Orak, H. I., Oktenoglu, T., Ates, O., Akgul, T., & Ozer, A. f. (2025). Dynamic vs. Rigid: Transforming the Treatment Landscape for Multisegmental Lumbar Degeneration. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(15), 5472. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155472