Zeitschrift für Wirbelsäule

Post-operative Radiographs for Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Fusions?

Abstract

Robert W Molinari, Robert Molinari Jr and Ryan W McAssey RN

A retrospective review of 70 consecutive lumbar degenerative surgical cases in which intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging was compared with immediate postoperative radiographs using a novel vertebral grid-coordinate system. Same-hospitalization postoperative standing lumbar AP and lateral radiographs do not appear to be cost-effective or to provide additional clinically relevant information when intraoperative fluoroscopy is utilized.