Direct repair of spondylolysis or minimal degrees of spondylolisthesis by screw fixation and bone grafting

Twenty patients with chronic low back pain who were not responding to conservative measures for at least six months due to lumbar spondylolysis or grade-1 spondylolisthesis, with no evidence of spinal degeneration or nerve root compression. There ages ranged between 18 to 36 years old, the main age was 22.9 years. There were eleven females and nine males. All patients were treated with repair of the defect by screw fexation and bone grafting. The mean follow up period was 12 months [range, 18 - 40 months]. 80% of the patients obtained good to excellent clinical results, and 90% obtained solid fusion of the defect