Modified Scott's operation for management of lumbar spondylolysis and minimal degree spondylolithesis

Thirty-two patients complaining of low back pain and diagnosed as spondylolysis were included in this study. All of them had spondylolysis of the lumbar spine at different levels. The affected level was L5 [n = 16], L4 [n = 10] and multiple-levels lysis [n = 6]. Twenty-two patients had associated grade I spondylolithesis in association with the lysis. The other 11 patients had spondylolysis only. These patients were managed surgically in this study by the modified Scotts technique using pedicular screws and washers as anchorage point instead of wiring around the transverse process. The defect was filled by iliac grafts either paste or tricortical one. Minimal decompression through limited fenestration was done in three patients. The patients were followed up for one year at least. The follow up duration ranged between 12 and 30 months with an average 18 months. The study concluded that this modified technique is a safe and easy technique, avoiding the complications of wire breakage and transverse process fracture of the traditional Scotts technique. It can be applied to multiple level lysis with the preservation of a good back motion