Purpose:

To evaluate the vertebral bone mineral density and the value of stand-alone oblique lumbar interbody fusion (SA OLIF) for the management of single-level adjacent segment disease (ASD) and primary lumbar degenerative diseases.

Patients and methods:

Seventy-eight patients undergoing single-level SA OLIF was divided into index surgery group (n = 36) or revision surgery group (n = 42) at single center. The vertebral body Hounsfield units (HU) value was measured to assess bone mineral density of operated level by the preoperative CT. The following data were retrospectively collected and compared between the two groups: demographic, surgical data, clinical results, and complications.

Results:

No differences were found between the two groups in surgical data. The fusion segment HU values in the revision group were significantly higher than that in the index group (147.4 ± 35.3 vs 129.2 ± 38.4 p = .033). There were significant differences while comparing fusion segment HU values to L1-L4 horizontal plane (147.4 ± 35.3 vs 126.1 ± 28.4, p = .000) and L1 (147.4 ± 35.3 vs 126.8 ± 26.2, p = .000) in revision group, meanwhile, no statistically significant difference was observed in index group (p > .05). The cage subsidence was observed in the revision group (n = 2) and index group (n = 9) (p = .045). The patients with cage subsidence had significantly lower vertebral HU values.

Conclusion:

SA OLIF is valid alternative to the traditional posterior approach in the management of ASD with good clinical outcomes at short-term follow-up. Increased HU values of fusion segment may play a role in the management of ASD by SA OLIF.