[Late results of the surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis complicated by injury of the cauda equina].

In 1971-1985 surgical treatment was carried out of 29 patients in the Neurosurgery Department WAM in Lódź and 5 in the Rehabilitation Centre in Konstancin for spondylolisthesis complicated with signs of cauda equina damage. In the surgical treatment the technique used was that of a combination of neurosurgical approach (full decompression of the nervous elements in the vertebral canal by laminectomy with foraminectomy or facetectomy, removal of protruding discs and osteophytes and parts of the vertebral bodies narrowing the vertebral canal), and orthopaedic procedures (spondylodesis between vertebral bodies posterior spondylodesis and a combination of both techniques). In one case spring alloplasty was done and in one case Harrington's rods were used. The operation was carried out at one time from the same posterior approach. The follow-up was from 1 to 15 years. A very good result was obtained in 20.6% of cases, good in 55.9%, satisfactory in 23.5%. In no case of worsening or lack of improvement were observed.