Spine surgery for lumbar degenerative disease in elderly and osteoporotic patients.

Elderly patients with lumbar spine degenerative disease present significant challenges regarding surgical decision making and management. Because osteoporosis is a particularly prevalent comorbidity in the elderly population, it must be a concern in all elderly patients with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Careful attention to surgical indications and surgical technique is always required for the successful treatment of this challenging patient population.