A NOVEL TECHNIQUE TO ACHIEVE FUSION USING LOCAL AUTOGRAFT BONE; THE BUTTON FUSION

摘要

Back pain is one of the most widespread sources of chronic pain in the human population. The etiology of back pain is nearly as diverse as the treatment measures used to alleviate the discomfort. However, when conservative options have been exhausted, without achieving adequate relief, the patient and physician often turn to surgical options to eliminate the source of pain. The options for lumbar fusion are multiple. An anterior approach permits direct and complete removal of disc tissue [1, 2], while sparing the posterior muscle and soft tissue [3]. A posterior approach is required for proper decompression of stenosis, and allows the surgeon to properly address pain that originates in the facet. Facet joint fusion is a biomechanically attractive option [4] that can be performed using a posterior approach.