Lumbar spinal fusion of low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis (Meyerding grade I and II): Do reduction and correction of the radiological sagittal parameters correlate with better clinical outcome?

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery volume 140, pages1155–1162(2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Lumbar and lumbosacral spinal fusion is an established procedure for the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, the impact of reduction in the affected segment and of improvement in the radiological sagittal parameters on the clinical outcome remains unclear. Purpose of the study is to analyze the correlation between the radiological sagittal parameters and clinical outcome after lumbar spinal fusion in low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Materials and methods

In a monocentric prospective, clinical study, patients with low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis of a single lumbar segment have been included. All patients received a lumbar spinal fusion according to the pathology of the treated segment. Patients attended clinical and radiological follow-up examination 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Core Outcome Measurement Index (COMI), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the EuroQol 5D. The sagittal spinopelvic radiological parameters, sagittal rotation and anterior displacement of the affected segment and lumbar lordosis were assessed. The correlation between the sagittal radiological parameters and clinical outcome was analyzed using Spearman-Rho bi-serial test.

Results

Sixty-two patients (35 female and 27 male) with an average age of 59.3 years were included in the study. All patients completed the follow-up examinations. Significant improvement in COMI, ODI and EuroQol 5D scores was shown in all follow-up examinations. Significant reduction in the anterior displacement was measured postoperatively, which was preserved during the follow-up. However, no correlation could be demonstrated between reduction in anterior displacement and improvement in clinical outcome. Nonetheless, correlation between correction of sagittal rotation and clinical outcome was shown.

Conclusions

Reduction in anterior displacement of the affected segment in the surgical treatment of low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis does not have an impact on the clinical outcome.

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Funding

This study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany

    Stavros Oikonomidis, Carolin Meyer, Max Joseph Scheyerer, David Grevenstein, Peer Eysel & Jan Bredow

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  1. Stavros Oikonomidis
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  2. Carolin Meyer
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  3. Max Joseph Scheyerer
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  4. David Grevenstein
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Correspondence to Stavros Oikonomidis.

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Conflict of interest

Stavros Oikonomidis, Carolin Meyer, Max Joseph Scheyerer, David Grevenstein, Peer Eysel and Jan Bredow declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of our institutional committee (Number 09-182) and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Oikonomidis, S., Meyer, C., Scheyerer, M.J. et al. Lumbar spinal fusion of low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis (Meyerding grade I and II): Do reduction and correction of the radiological sagittal parameters correlate with better clinical outcome?. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 140, 1155–1162 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-019-03282-9

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Keywords

  • Degenerative spondylolisthesis
  • Anterior displacement
  • Lumbar fusion
  • Sagittal alignment
  • Spinopelvic parameters