Lumbar intervertebral endplate autograft fusion on patients with lumbar spinal instability and lumbar spondylolisthesis

Background Lumbar interbody fusion with standalone local bone grafts sufficed for single-level low-grade spondylolisthesis via the open posterior approach. This study aimed to assess the impact of lumbar intervertebral endplate autograft fusion on middle-aged and elderly adults with lumbar spinal instability and spondylolisthesis. Methods 32 patients with these conditions were included in the study at a hospital between June 2018 and January 2023, undergoing either lumbar intervertebral endplate autograft fusion or intervertebral graft fusion. Results The two groups showed no significant differences in postoperative measures except for the JOA low back pain score and SF-36 score, which were better in the endplate autograft fusion group. The endplate fusion ratio was significantly higher in the autograft fusion group. Conclusions Lumbar intervertebral endplate autograft fusion may be a promising approach for patients with lumbar spine instability and low-grade spondylolisthesis, potentially leading to a higher endplate fusion ratio compared to conventional methods.