Do Three-Dimensional Printed Porous Titanium Relative to Polyetheretherketone Interbody Cages Reduce Complications and Revisions after Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion?

Study DesignRetrospective Cohort Study.ObjectivesTo determine if 3D printed porous titanium (Ti) cages compared to non-porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages predicted improved fusion rate or clinical outcomes after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).MethodsAll adult patients who underwent one- and two-level TLIF for degenerative conditions by a single surgeon at an academic center between 2017-2021 were retrospectively identified. Patients were dichotomized into porous Ti and non-porous PEEK interbody cage groups. Fusion status was assessed by at 6-months and 1-year postoperatively by CT Bridwell scale and flexion/extension X-Rays. Postoperative complications (CT-based subsidence, adjacent segment disease, reoperation rates) and interval changes in lumbar radiographic alignment at short- and long-term follow-up were determined. Univariate and multivariate analysis compared patient and surgical factors, fusion rates, alignment, and complications across interbody groups.ResultsA total of 136 patients with 169 unique fusion levels (125 Ti cages, 44 PEEK cages) met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Ti relative to PEEK interbodies had significantly decreased surface area and increased height and lordosis. Ti cage use was associated with greater subsidence (<i>P</i> < 0.001) but did not independently predict maximum subsidence on regression (<i>P</i> = 0.109). In the overall cohort, there were no significant differences in fusion rates or lumbopelvic alignment between interbody groups. Reoperation (Ti: 10.9% vs PEEK: 28.6%, <i>P</i> = 0.026) and reoperation for pseudoarthrosis (Ti: 2.0% vs PEEK: 11.4%, <i>P</i> = 0.038) was significantly more likely in the PEEK relative to the Ti group.ConclusionsUse of 3D printed porous Ti cages relative to non-porous PEEK cages may mitigate pseudoarthrosis related reoperation after TLIF.