Lumbosacral spinal fusion with Knodt distraction rods.

Knodt distraction rods have been used in conjunction with lumbar spinal decompression and/or fusion to open the intervertebral foramen. A review was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of the Knodt Rods in 24 patients with multiple level foramenal canal stenosis. All 24 patients were treated by wide decompressive laminectomy, foramenotomies and bilateral-lateral fusion. One half of those 24 patients were treated with supplemental Knodt Rods and the other half was treated without Knodt Rods. Pre- and post-operative radiologic and clinical results were compared between the two groups. Although there were definitive roentgenographic trends that Knodt Rods provided flexion of the spine and more opening of the intervertebral foramina, there was no significant clinical benefit from the use of the Knodt Rods compared with those without Knodt Rods.