INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: With current imaging modalities and diagnostic tests, identifying pain generators in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP) is difficult. There is growing evidence of the effectiveness of SPECT/CT examination in diagnosing the source of pain in the spine. The study aims to investigate the effect of posterior interbody fusion on a single-level SPECT/CT positive lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective study of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) operated on for a single-level SPECT/CT positive DDD. Primary outcomes were changes in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Secondary outcomes were complications, return to work, satisfaction and willingness to re-undergo surgery. RESULTS: During a 3-year period, 38 patients underwent single-level fusion surgery. The mean preoperative VAS score of 8.4 (± 1.1) decreased to 3.2 (± 2.5, p < 0.001) and the mean preoperative ODI of 51.5 (± 7.3) improved to 20.7 (± 14.68, p < 0.001) at a 2-year follow-up. A minimum clinically important difference (30% reduction in VAS and ODI) was achieved in 84.2% of patients. Some 71% of patients were satisfied with the surgery results and 89.4% would undergo surgery again. There were four complications, and two patients underwent revision surgery. Some 82.9% of patients returned to work. CONCLUSION: Fusion for one-level SPECT/CT positive lumbar DDD resulted in substantial clinical improvement and satisfaction with surgical treatment. Therefore, SPECT/CT imaging could be useful in assessing patients with CLBP, especially those with unclear MRI findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04876586.

• MeSH
• bederní obratle diagnostické zobrazování   chirurgie   MeSH
• degenerace meziobratlové ploténky * diagnostické zobrazování   chirurgie   MeSH
• fúze páteře * metody   MeSH
• jednofotonová emisní výpočetní tomografie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lumbalgie * diagnostické zobrazování   etiologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

• MeSH
• autologní transplantace MeSH
• infarkt myokardu patofyziologie   terapie   MeSH
• injekce MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• tepový objem MeSH
• transplantace kostní dřeně * MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• dopisy MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH