Two young patients are described, who were operated on for high-grade spondylolisthesis. A good posterolateral fusion was achieved, without decompression and without reduction. The clinical course was favourable, the tight hamstring syndrome resolved. Disappearance of the posterior-superior part of the sacrum and of the posterior part of the L5-S1 disc was observed on comparing pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images. This resulted in normalisation of the width of the spinal canal. Around the L5 nerve roots in the L5-S1 foramina some fat reappeared. These anatomical changes on MRI could play a role in the disappearance of clinical symptoms.
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van Ooij, A., Weijers, R. & van Rhijn, L. Remodelling of the sacrum in high-grade spondylolisthesis: a report of two cases. Eur Spine J 12, 332–338 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-002-0521-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-002-0521-8
- Spondylolisthesis Spinal fusion Sacrum Hamstring contracture