The radiographic results and neurologic complications of instrumented reduction and fusion of high-grade spondylolisthesis without decompression of the neural elements: a retrospective review of 44 patients.

STUDY

DESIGN

A retrospective review of all cases of high-grade spondylolisthesis treated by 1 surgeon between the years 1991 and 2003.

OBJECTIVE

To report the radiographic results and neurologic complications following instrumented posterior reduction and fusion without decompression of the neural elements.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Despite a large number of published reviews of the clinical results of operative intervention, controversy remains about the surgical treatment of high-grade spondylolisthesis.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the clinical charts and radiographs of all patients with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis and more than 50% anterior displacement of L5 on S1 who were treated by the same surgical team at 1 institution.

RESULTS

With this technique, an average reduction in the displacement of L5 on S1 from 64% to 38% was achieved. At a minimum 2-year follow-up (41 patients), we have detected 5 cases with evidence of pseudarthrosis or loss of reduction (11.4%). Overall, a neurologic complication rate of 9.1% occurred in this series, with a 2.3% chance of a persistent motor deficit. We did not detect any loss of bowel or bladder function after surgery. At last follow-up, and after revision procedures, we were able to achieve good or fair clinical results in 40 (90.9%) of 44 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that a posterior instrumented reduction and fusion of high-grade spondylolisthesis without decompression of the neural elements can be accomplished with acceptable radiographic and clinical results.