Analysis of the Clinical Outcome of Microlumbar Decompression in Degenerative Grade-1 Spondylolisthesis versus Stable Lumbar Canal Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical outcomes of a non-fusion decompression procedure in degenerative low-grade spondylolisthesis versus stable lumbar canal stenosis.

METHODS

The study analyzed 50 cases of lumbar degenerative pathology that underwent decompression involving a single level. Dynamic X-ray assessment was employed to evaluate instability. Group 1 included stable lumbar stenosis, while group 2 included Meyerding grade-1 degenerative spondylolisthesis. Two years postmicrolumbar decompression, the final functional outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for backache and leg pain.

RESULTS

Group 1 included 25 cases with a mean ODI of 75.36 ± 13.59, mean VAS for backache of 5.92 ± 3.45, and mean VAS for leg pain of 8.92 ± 1.81. Group 2 included 25 cases with a mean ODI of 68.75 ± 11.81, mean VAS backache of 8 ± 1.22, and mean VAS leg pain of 7.87 ± 1.57. At 2 years, group 1's mean ODI improved to 22.64 ± 17.2 ( p  < 0.0001), mean VAS backache reduced to 2.04 ± 1.86 ( p  = 0.0002), and VAS leg pain reduced to 1.56 ± 1.97 ( p  < 0.0001). Group 2 showed a mean ODI of 24 ± 10.6 ( p  < 0.0001), backache mean VAS of 2.12 ± 1.43 ( p  = 0.0009), and mean VAS leg pain of 2.56 ± 1.35 ( p  = 0.0008). Both groups showed statistically comparable functional improvement.

CONCLUSION

Microlumbar decompression yielded comparable functional outcomes in both groups. This procedure presents a viable option for preserving the integrity of lumbar motion segment in degenerative low grade (Meyerding grade 1) spondylolisthesis.