Lumbar spondyloptosis. A long term follow up of three cases.

This paper reports the long term results of 3 patients with lumbosacral spondyloptosis who were treated by closed reduction, followed by 6 to 12 weeks plaster cast immobilisation, posterior fusion and finally anterior fusion after a further 3 to 6 months. The follow up was from 7.5 to 10.5 years. Spondyloptosis was diagnosed by estimating the slip angle and the percentage slip. The initial slip angle ranged from 40 degrees to 55 degrees with 46%-91% slip. The average improvement in the slip angle after reduction was 82% with 74% improvement in slip. There was some loss of correction in every case by the end of treatment: the average improvement in slip angle was 59% (36%-78%) with an average 52% (25%-69%) correction of slip. Fusion was obtained in every case and the clinical results were very satisfactory.