Direct Repair of Lumbar Pars Interarticularis Defects by Utilizing Intraoperative O-Arm-Based Navigation and Microendoscopic Techniques

Direct Pars Repair with Cannulated Screws in Adults: A Case Series and Systematic Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

Lumbar spondylolysis occurs in 5%-8% of adults. This study aimed to report clinical and radiographic outcomes of direct pars repair in adults with lumbar spondylolysis.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of all patients treated for lumbar spondylolysis via open fracture reduction and direct pars repair with cannulated screws using a lag technique. Demographics, clinical presentation, perioperative and intraoperative imaging, and postoperative data were collected. We subsequently performed a systematic review to describe radiographic and clinical outcomes following direct pars repair.

RESULTS

Three patients were identified (mean age 40.3 years; range, 21-72 years; 2 male). All patients had bilateral L5 pars fractures treated via open, direct repair with cannulated screws. There were no intraoperative complications. Length of stay was <24 hours for each patient. All patients reported back/radicular symptom relief and returned to full-time manual labor by latest follow-up. Noncontrast lumbar computed tomography performed 14-20 months postoperatively confirmed that all patients had good bilateral screw placement without fracture. Two patients (21 and 28 years old at surgery) had evidence of fusion across fracture sites, while 1 patient exhibited radiolucency around the screws and no progression of spondylolisthesis. Additionally, we reviewed 8210 articles and included 15 in a systematic review of direct pars repair. Fusion rates were 67%-100%, with improved average Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale back pain scores by latest follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Lumbar spondylolysis treatment with open fracture reduction and direct pars repair with cannulated screws in adults is safe and may result in mechanical back/radicular pain relief, even in the absence of radiographic fusion.

Lumbar spondylolysis - Current concepts review

Lumbar pars interarticularis (PI) injury or spondylolysis occurs only in humans. This represents a stress fracture of the PI. Excessive loading in repetitive hyperextension is a significant risk factor and occurs most commonly at L5 followed by L4. It is bilateral in 80% of symptomatic cases but can be unilateral defect as well which runs a more benign course. Symptoms of low back pain relating to this lesion are more common in young athletes involved in trunk twisting sports. Like other stress fractures, the pain may come on abruptly or more insidiously over time and only related to certain activities. The pathologic progression starts with a stress reaction in the pars, progressing to an incomplete stress fracture, and then a complete pars fracture. Diagnosis is dependent on clinical examination and radiological imaging studies (plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans). Treatment is dependent on symptoms as well as radiographic stage of the lesion. Conservative management is the mainstay of treating early lesions. A comprehensive rehabilitation program incorporates core spinal stabilization exercises. Athletes should not return to sports until pain free. Professional sporting individuals are at increased risk of failure of resolution of symptoms that may require early surgical repair of the PI defect. Modified Buck's technique & pedicle screw-hook constructs for direct repair has a high success rate in patients who have persistent low back pain. Minimally invasive lumbar pars defect repair has given similar successful outcome with added advantage of minimizing muscle injury, preserving the adjacent joint and reduced hospital stay. Functional outcome is evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Preoperative ODI and SF-36 physical component scores (PCS) are significant predictor of a good functional outcome.

Comparing Surgical Treatments for Spondylolysis: Review on Current Research

STUDY DESIGN

Narrative review.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the various surgical methods of repairing spondylolysis defects in regard to improving pain, restoration of function, radiographic improvement, and complication rate.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Spondylolysis is a defect in the pars interarticularis of the vertebral arch, typically in the lumbar vertebra. Treatment can be nonoperative and/or surgical. There are various types of surgical repair including spinal compression, fusion, and direct pars repair.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the English literature was performed utilizing Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria included papers or abstracts that evaluated the surgical techniques. Exclusion criteria included non-English-language papers or abstracts with inadequate information about outcomes.

RESULTS

Postoperative pain levels and patient function were consistently improved, regardless of surgical technique chosen. Positive clinical outcomes after surgery were seen more often in patients under age 20 and those who underwent minimally invasive repairs. Positive radiographic improvements were reported broadly, although some reported higher rates of nonunion with spinal compression. Complication rates were low throughout and minimally invasive techniques reported decreased blood loss and shorter hospital stays.

CONCLUSIONS

Present surgical options appear largely comparable in terms of their ability to provide meaningful treatment for spondylolysis where conservative treatments have failed or otherwise remain unattempted.

Is there a place for surgical repair in adults with spondylolysis or grade-I spondylolisthesis-a systematic review and treatment algorithm

OBJECTIVES

Pars repair is less explored in adults due to associated disc degeneration with advancing age. The aim of our systematic review was to define optimal characteristics of adults with spondylolysis/grade-I spondylolisthesis suitable for pars repair and evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of standard repair techniques in these adults.

METHODS

This systematic review is reported in line with PRISMA-P and protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020189208). Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science in June 2020 using systematic search strategy. Studies involving adults aged ≥18-years with spondylolysis/grade-1 isthmic spondylolisthesis treated with standard pars repair techniques were considered eligible. A two-staged (titles/abstracts and full-text) screening was conducted independently by three authors followed by quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for selection of final articles for narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

A total of 5,813-articles were retrieved using systematic search strategy. First screening followed by removal of duplicates resulted in 111-articles. Second (full-text) screening resulted in exclusion of 64-articles. A final 47-articles were considered for data extraction after quality assessment. A total of 590-adults were enrolled across 47-studies; 93% were 'young adults' (18-35 years); 82% were males. Persistent low back pain was the common presenting complaint. Lysis defect was primarily bilateral (96.4%) and L5 was the most involved level (68.5%). Majority had no disc degeneration (83.5%) and had spondylolysis as the primary diagnosis (86%); only 14% had grade-I spondylolisthesis. Pars infiltration test was conducted in 22-studies and discography in 8-studies. Duration of prior conservative therapy was 3 to 72-months. Buck's repair was the commonest technique (27-studies, 372-adults). Successful repair was reported in 86% of patients treated with Buck's and ≥90% treated with Scott's, Morscher's and pedicle-screw-based techniques. Improvement in pain/functional outcomes, union rate and rate-of-return to sports/activity was high and comparable across all techniques. Intraoperative blood loss was low with minimally invasive versus traditional repair. The overall complication rate was 11.9%, with implant failure being the major complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review establishes a definite place for lysis repair in carefully selected adults with spondylolysis/grade-I spondylolisthesis. We propose a treatment algorithm for optimizing patient selection and outcomes. We conclude that adults with age 18 to 45 years, no/mild disc or facet degenerative changes, positive diagnostic infiltration test, and normal preoperative discography will have successful outcomes with pars repair, regardless of the technique.