Turkish Neurosurgery 2015 , Vol 25 , Num 3
A Modified Technique for the Treatment of Isthmic Spondylolisthesis
Tevfik YILMAZ1, Sedat DALBAYRAK2, Onur YAMAN3, Mesut YILMAZ2, Murat AYTEN2, Yahya TURAN1, Kadir OZTURK2
1Dicle University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Diyarbakır, Turkey
2Neurospinal Academy, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
3Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Izmir, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.10298-14.2 AIM: To describe a modified technique for the treatment of single level, isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS)

MATERIAL and METHODS: Forty-two patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with spinolaminar autologous bone graft for the treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis between May 2007 and November 2011, were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent total removal of the spinolaminar process, total discectomy and endplate decortication, and proper size spinolaminar autologous bone graft was sequentially inserted into the disc space with posterior instrumentation. Outcomes of the study included visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and radiographic fusion.

RESULTS: The average duration of follow-up was 3.5 years. Neither has implant failure been observed nor has revision been required so far. The mean Oswestry Disability Index improved from 53% to 9.5%, and visual analog scale for back pain from 8.5 to 3.8 at the first month and 1.3 at the sixth month postoperatively. Visual analog scale for leg pain from 8.3 to 1.4 at the first month and 0.8 at the sixth month postoperatively. All patients had clinical and radiographic evidence of solid fusion without any need for revision.

CONCLUSION: The modified posterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation technique is a safe and effective treatment for isthmic spondylolisthesis. Keywords : Isthmic spondylolisthesis, Posterior lumbar interbody fusion, Autologous bone greft

Corresponding author : Tevfik Yılmaz, kartaltevfik@hotmail.com