【Abstract】 Objectives To study the curative effects of alendronate sodium versus salmon calcitonin in promoting interbody fusion after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Methods From September 2010 to August 2012,168 patients with adult lumbar spinal stenosis associated with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc were treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion and pedicle screw fixation. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the drugs used after PLIF, alendronate sodium group (group A,n=51), salmon calcitonin group (group B, n=52) and controls (n=65, without taking any anti-osteoporosis drugs. The clinical and imaging results of the patients were compared among three groups. Results All patients were followed up from 6 months to 2 years and 1 month(an average of 18 months).There were no significant differences between two groups regarding the surgical time,blood loss and hospital stay. No severe complication occurred in the 3 groups.The rates of excellent,good and fair were 88.2%,88.5% and 61.5% in group A, B and C respectively. There were no significant difference between group A and B, but both group A and B were significantly higher than that in group C. One year post-operatively,the fusion rate were 84.3%,84.6% and 53.8% in group A,B and C respectively. There were no significant difference between group A and B, but both group A and B were significantly higher than in group C.The average loss of disc space height were 1.1 mm,1.1 mm and 4.0 mm in group A,B and C respectively. There were no significant difference between group A and B, but both Group A and B were significantly lower than in group C. Conclusions Administration of alendronate sodium or salmon calcitonin after PLIF is beneficial to promoting interbody fusion rate and reducing loss of disc space height.
