Posterolateral lumbar fusion.

Lumbar fusion has been applied to patients with lumbar instability due to structural defects or regressive degeneration. There are several methods for obtaining spinal fusion, but the gold standard is posterolateral fusion. This type of spinal fusion, which involves placing a bone graft in the posterolateral portion of the spine, has a long history and is considered by many surgeons to be a safe, effective method. We also have performed posterolateral lumbar fusion in patients with lumbar degenerative disease since 1971 and have reported good long-term results at 10 and 20 years after surgery. Posterolateral lumbar fusion, an established method of lumbar fusion with less effect on adjacent segments, is expected to show long-term clinical success. A combination of spinal instruments should be employed for limited purposes, such as correcting spondylolisthesis. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association