One hundred and eighty-eight patients with back pain and sciatica caused by degenerative lumbar disorders were studied prospectivevy after decompression and spinal fusion with spinal instrumentation. One hundred and twenty-two of the 188 patients underwent decomression and posterolateral fusion using a Knodt distraction rod (Knodt group). The 66 remmaining patients were treated by decompression and posterolateral fusion with the Diapason transpedicle screw syistem (Diapason group).
At follow-up, 70% of both groups had achieved good results. The fusion rate was 92.6% in the Knodt group and 98.5% in the Diapason group. The wound infection rate was 2.5% in the Knodt group and 4.5% in the Diapason group. Neurologic deficit rate was 10.7% in the Knod group and 1.5% in the Diapason group. Most of these complications resolved. We velieve that the Diapason system provides excellent fixation and can be applied safely without significantly increasing the complication rate.