Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence

Abstract Objectives To identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence (CS) following single segment transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) and to compare the predictive performance of various bone quality assessment meth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chaohui Ding, Changnan Xie, Jinwei Ying, Mengxian Jia, Ziwei Fan, Xiang Fang, Xianghe Wang, Honglin Teng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02797-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849769336953110528
author Chaohui Ding
Changnan Xie
Jinwei Ying
Mengxian Jia
Ziwei Fan
Xiang Fang
Xianghe Wang
Honglin Teng
author_facet Chaohui Ding
Changnan Xie
Jinwei Ying
Mengxian Jia
Ziwei Fan
Xiang Fang
Xianghe Wang
Honglin Teng
author_sort Chaohui Ding
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives To identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence (CS) following single segment transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) and to compare the predictive performance of various bone quality assessment methods using MRI and CT images. Methods A total of 226 patients from 2021 to 2023 who underwent ULIF/TLIF because of lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis were enrolled. The subsidence of the cage into the vertebral body exceeding 2 mm was defined as CS and diagnosed using CT scans. Immediate endplate destruction (IED) was defined by CT and VBQ was measured through T1-weighted lumbar MRI. The independent sample t-test was employed to examine the risk factors associated with CS. Additionally, risk factors associated with CS were identified using logistic regression analysis. Lastly, the comparative predictive values were assessed through ROC curve analysis. Results Logistic regression analysis revealed that increased postoperative posterior disc height (PPDH), higher segmental VBQ scores, higher mean VBQ (M-VBQ) scores, decreased segmental HU values, decreased mean HU (M-HU) values and immediate endplate destruction (IED) were associated with the occurrence of CS. The area under the curve (AUC) of the VBQ score was higher than that of the HU value, both in segment and in average. Conclusions The incidence of CS was lower in ULIF compared to TLIF. High VBQ scores, low HU values, high PPDH and the presence of IED were associated with an increased risk of CS. Notably, the predictive value of both VBQ scores and HU values were high for CS, with the former potentially outperforming the latter.
format Article
id doaj-art-b2dc3c1ee7194388acb7aa2d7a2edff8
institution DOAJ
issn 2047-783X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series European Journal of Medical Research
spelling doaj-art-b2dc3c1ee7194388acb7aa2d7a2edff82025-08-20T03:03:27ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-07-0130111010.1186/s40001-025-02797-9Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidenceChaohui Ding0Changnan Xie1Jinwei Ying2Mengxian Jia3Ziwei Fan4Xiang Fang5Xianghe Wang6Honglin Teng7Department of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics (Spine Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Objectives To identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence (CS) following single segment transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) and to compare the predictive performance of various bone quality assessment methods using MRI and CT images. Methods A total of 226 patients from 2021 to 2023 who underwent ULIF/TLIF because of lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis were enrolled. The subsidence of the cage into the vertebral body exceeding 2 mm was defined as CS and diagnosed using CT scans. Immediate endplate destruction (IED) was defined by CT and VBQ was measured through T1-weighted lumbar MRI. The independent sample t-test was employed to examine the risk factors associated with CS. Additionally, risk factors associated with CS were identified using logistic regression analysis. Lastly, the comparative predictive values were assessed through ROC curve analysis. Results Logistic regression analysis revealed that increased postoperative posterior disc height (PPDH), higher segmental VBQ scores, higher mean VBQ (M-VBQ) scores, decreased segmental HU values, decreased mean HU (M-HU) values and immediate endplate destruction (IED) were associated with the occurrence of CS. The area under the curve (AUC) of the VBQ score was higher than that of the HU value, both in segment and in average. Conclusions The incidence of CS was lower in ULIF compared to TLIF. High VBQ scores, low HU values, high PPDH and the presence of IED were associated with an increased risk of CS. Notably, the predictive value of both VBQ scores and HU values were high for CS, with the former potentially outperforming the latter.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02797-9Unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion immediate endplate destructionCage subsidenceVertebral bone qualityHounsfield units
spellingShingle Chaohui Ding
Changnan Xie
Jinwei Ying
Mengxian Jia
Ziwei Fan
Xiang Fang
Xianghe Wang
Honglin Teng
Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence
European Journal of Medical Research
Unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion immediate endplate destruction
Cage subsidence
Vertebral bone quality
Hounsfield units
title Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence
title_full Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence
title_fullStr Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence
title_full_unstemmed Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence
title_short Utilizing MRI and CT to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence
title_sort utilizing mri and ct to identify risk factors associated with cage subsidence
topic Unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion immediate endplate destruction
Cage subsidence
Vertebral bone quality
Hounsfield units
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02797-9
work_keys_str_mv AT chaohuiding utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence
AT changnanxie utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence
AT jinweiying utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence
AT mengxianjia utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence
AT ziweifan utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence
AT xiangfang utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence
AT xianghewang utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence
AT honglinteng utilizingmriandcttoidentifyriskfactorsassociatedwithcagesubsidence