LUMBAR AND LUMBOSACRAL FUSION USING STEFFEE INSTRUMENTATION

Posterior and posterolateral spinal fusion with the Steffee variable p lating system have been performed on 176 patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center since November 1985. This report covers the authors' ea rly experience using the Steffee device on 39 patients. All of the 39 patients (100%) were available for a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Com plications occurred in 26% of the patients. Radiographic pseudarthrosi s occurred in 8% of the patients. The findings suggest that lumbar and lumbosacral fusion supplemented with Steffee plate instrumentation ar e associated with a low incidence of pseudarthrosis and acceptable mor bidity overall.