Impact of lordotic cages in the restoration of spinopelvic parameters after dorsal lumbar interbody fusion: a retrospective case control study

PURPOSE: Aim of this study was to compare the reconstruction of radiological sagittal spinopelvic parameters between lordotic (10°) and normal cages (0°) after dorsal lumbar spondylodesis. METHODS: This retrospective monocentric study included patients who received dorsal lumbar spondylodesis between January 2014 and December 2018. Inclusion criteria were degenerative lumbar diseases and mono- or bi-segmental fusions in the middle and lower lumbar region. Exclusion criteria were long-distance fusions (3 segments and more) and infectious and tumour-related diseases. The sagittal spinopelvine parameters (lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic incidence, and pelvic tilt) were measured pre- and post-operatively by two examiners at two different times. The patients were divided into 2 groups (group 1: lordotic cage, group 2: normal cage). RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight patients (77 female, 61 male) with an average age of 66.6 ± 11.2 years (min.: 26, max.: 90) were included in the study based on the inclusion criteria. Ninety-two patients (66.7%) received 0° cages and 46 (33.3%) lordotic cages (10°). Segmental lordosis was increased by 4.2° on average in group 1 and by 6.5° in group 2 (p = 0.074). Average lumbar lordosis was increased by 2.1° in group 1 and by 0.6° in group 2 (p = 0.378). There was no significant difference in the correction of sagittal spinopelvic parameters. Inter- and inter-class reliability was between 0.887 and 0.956. CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study, no advantages regarding sagittal radiological parameters for the implantation of a lordotic cage could be demonstrated.