Fig. 3

A 54-year-old patient from Group A was followed up for 5 years. Preoperative MRI demonstrated severe disc degeneration in the L4/5 segment (c, d). We performed standard PLIF of the L5/S1 segment (the causative segment), as well as a distraction of the intervertebral space and facet fusions of the L4/5 segment. At the final follow-up, CT showed that complete fusion of the L4-5 facets had been achieved: left-side facet (a); right-side facet (b). MRI demonstrated that DCS in the L4/5 segment had decreased (e, f)