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Uninstrumented posterolateral spinal arthrodesis: is it the gold standard technique for I° and II° grade spondylolisthesis in adolescence?

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Abstract

We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of uninstrumented posterolateral spinal arthrodesis in 49 patients with lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis grades I° and II° in adolescent patients in the time of surgery, who participate at follow-up, between 1980 and 1995. The goal of our study is to analyse the clinical and radiographic imaging at long follow-up in uninstrumented posterolateral arthrodesis and to evaluate the efficiency and the validity of surgical technique in young patients (<18 years). All patients had failed previous conservative treatment. The average age at follow-up was 33.5 years (range 25–42 years) and the average follow-up time was 19.7 years (range 12–27 years). The clinical outcome measures were the Oswestry Disability Index, the SF-36, and the visual analogic score. All measures assessed the endpoint outcomes at 20 years after surgery. The outcome of spinal fusion was good with 43 (87.7%) patients attaining solid fusion, pseudoarthrosis in 6 patients (12.3%). None of our patients complained of excessive postoperative wound pain. Additionally, no complications, such as wound infection, were encountered. Satisfactory results were obtained in 94% of patients and this was closely associated with the rate of successful fusion. The results suggest that clinical outcome is closely related to the attainment of solid fusion.

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None of the authors has any potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Spine Surgery, CTO/CRF/Maria Adelaide, Via Zuretti 29, 10126, Turin, Italy

    M. Girardo

  2. Scoliosis and Spine Surgery Center, Hesperia Hospital, Modena, Via Arquà 80/A, 41100, Modena, Italy

    N. Bettini, E. Dema & S. Cervellati

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  1. M. Girardo
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  2. N. Bettini
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  3. E. Dema
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  4. S. Cervellati
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Correspondence to M. Girardo.

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Girardo, M., Bettini, N., Dema, E. et al. Uninstrumented posterolateral spinal arthrodesis: is it the gold standard technique for I° and II° grade spondylolisthesis in adolescence?. Eur Spine J 18 (Suppl 1), 126–132 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-0983-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-0983-z

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