VARIANTS OF TITANIUM MESH IMPLANT PENETRATION INTO THE LUMBAR VERTEBRAL BODIES AFTER ANTERIOR FUSION

Objective. To assess radiological results of anterior spinal fusion using cylindrical titanium mesh implant for lumbar spine fracture.Material and Мethods. A total of 74 adult patients with unstable fractures of the L1-L5 vertebral bodies were selected. They underwent posterior instrumental fixation, anterior decompression of the spinal cord and its roots, and anterior interbody fusion with placement of titanium mesh implant. Radiological and CT control was performed immediately and 0.5-2 years after surgery.Results. The phenomenon of implant penetration into the body/bodies of the cranial and/or caudal fused vertebrae has been revealed. Depending on the nature of penetration, single-level (into one vertebra) and two-level (into two vertebrae) variants of the implant edge penetration were identified. A method for calculating the penetration rate was developed, which value determines three grades of the implant penetration: grade 1 with a rate less than 0.1; grade 2 - 0.1-0.29; and grade 3 - more than 0.3. On this basis, the results of anterior spinal fusion are evaluated as good, satisfactory or unsatisfactory, respectively. If the implant did not penetrate, the result is considered excellent.Conclusion. The proposed rate of implant penetration allows for objective evaluation of the interbody fusion results, both immediate and long-term.