ABSTRACT
Background: Lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis [LDS] is a degenerative slippage of the lumbar vertebrae. We aimed to evaluate the surgical outcome of degenerative spondylolisthesis with neural decompression, pedicular screw fixation, reduction, and posterolateral fusion
Methods: This before-after study was carried out on 45 patients [37 female and 8 male] with LDS operated from August 2008 to January 2011. The patients' pain and disability were assessed by visual analogue scale [VAS] and Oswestry disability index [ODI] questionnaire. In surgery, we applied distraction force to facilitate slip reduction. All the intra- and postoperative complications were recorded. The paired t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis
Results: The mean age of patients and mean follow-up period were 58.3 +/- 3.5 years and 31.2 +/- 4.8 months, respectively. The mean slip correction rate was 52.2% with a mean correction loss of 4.8%. Preoperative VAS and ODI improved from 8.8 and 71.6 to postoperative 2.1 and 28.7, respectively. Clinical improvement was more prominent in more reduced patients, but Pearson coefficient could not find a significant correlation
Conclusion: Although spinal decompression with fusion and posterior instrumentation in surgical treatment of the patients with LDS result in satisfactory outcome, vertebral reduction cannot significantly enhance the clinical improvement