Trans-sacral screw fixation in the treatment of high dyplastic developmental spondylolisthesis

Transdiscal screw versus pedicle screw fixation for high-grade L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis in patients younger than 60 years: a case-control study

PURPOSE

To compare outcomes between transdiscal and conventional pedicle fixation for high-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective case-control study with patients prospectively followed. Twenty-five consecutive patients with mean age of 36.7 years underwent transdiscal fixation, and 31 other with mean age of 42.0 years to pedicle fixation were clinically and radiographically compared. Clinical assessments were performed using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Core Outcomes Measures Index (COMI), Short-Form 12 (SF-12), and pain visual analog scale (VAS). Radiographic spinopelvic parameters were also evaluated. The mean follow-up was 2.7 years (range 2.0-5.3).

RESULTS

Preoperative data were comparable between groups. Surgery time, blood loss, and hospital stay were similar between groups. At last follow-up, clinical and radiographic outcomes were significantly improved in both groups. Postoperatively, both lumbar and leg pain VAS were similar between groups, but ODI (20.2 vs. 31.6, p = 0.010), COMI (1.6 vs. 2.8, p = 0.012), and SF-12 physical (84.3 vs. 61.5, p = 0.004) and mental (81.5 vs. 69.4, p = 0.021) scores were significantly better in the transdiscal group. The neurologic complication rate was similar in both groups. There were 4 pseudoarthroses in the pedicle group, and none in the transdiscal group.

CONCLUSION

L5-S1 transdiscal screw fixation provided better functional and radiographic outcomes at medium-term than conventional pedicle fixation for high-grade spondylolisthesis, although transdiscal sacral screws are difficult to place in correct position.

Radiologic and clinical outcomes of surgery in high grade spondylolisthesis treated with temporary distraction rod

Background

Surgical techniques used in the treatment of patients with high grade lumbar spondylolisthesis (> 50% slippage) are usually associated with a great deal of controversies. We aim to evaluate the surgical outcomes of high grade spondylolisthesis treated with an intraoperative temporary distraction rod.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 21 patients (14 females and 7 males), aged 50.4 ± 9.2 years, who had high grade lumbar spondylolisthesis that was treated with intraoperative temporary distraction rods, neural decompression, pedicular screw fixation, and posterolateral fusion involving one more intact upper vertebra. The mean follow-up period was 39.2 months. Radiologic and clinical outcomes were measured by slip angle, slip percentage, correction rate, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS), patient's satisfaction rate in the pre- and postoperative period. Data were analyzed by SPSS ver. 11.5.

Results

Analysis of the preoperative visits and final follow-up visits indicated that surgery could improve ODI, lumbar VAS, and leg VAS from 60.5% to 8.2%, from 6.7 to 2.2, and from 6.9 to 1.3, respectively. Slip angle and slip percentage were also changed from -8° to -15° and from 59.2% to 21.4%, respectively. Mean correction rate at the final follow-up visit was 64.1%. Loss of correction was insignificant and a neurologic complication occurred in one patient due to misplacement of one screw. Excellent and good levels of satisfaction were observed in 90.5% of the patients.

Conclusions

In the surgical treatment of refractory high grade spondylolisthesis, the use of a temporary distraction rod to reduce the slipped vertebra in combination with neural decompression, posterolateral fusion, and longer instrumentation is associated with satisfactory clinical and radiologic outcomes.