Comparing the early efficacies of autologous bone grafting and interbody fusion cages for treating degenerative lumbar instability in patients of different ages

The aim of this study was to compare the early efficacies of interbody fusion using autologous bone graft or an interbody fusion cage in a modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in patients of different ages with degenerative lumbar instability. Data from 33 patients with double-segment degenerative lumbar instability treated with a modified TLIF combined with a posterior fixation system from December 2008 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The two segments separately received an interbody bone graft fusion and an interbody fusion cage. Patients were divided by age into group A (middle-aged and elderly group, age ≥ 55 years, n = 13) and group B (young adult group, age