Enhancement of lumbar spine fusion by use of translaminar facet joint screws.

From January 1983 to March 1986 the authors have performed 88 consecutive lumbosacral spine fusion, enhanced with translaminar facet screws, as described by F. Magerl of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Forty-three patients have a follow-up of 12 months or greater, for a mean follow-up time of 16 months. The median time to fusion in this group was 6 months, with a range of 6 weeks to 10 months. Ninety-three percent of the patients were found to be clinically improved, and 91% of patients were judged solidly fused on evaluation of motion radiographs. Compared with our previously reported results for lumbar fusion without internal fixation, supplementation of lumbar fusion by translaminar facet screw fixation significantly improved the clinical results, as well as the time required for fusion, with no significant increased risk.