Long Term Follow up Results of Threaded Fusion Cage(T.F.C.) in Surgical Treatment of Spondylolisthesis

ABSTRACT

The goal of operation in spondylolisthesis is improving radiculopathy and relieving lower back pain preventing further progression of the slip, through decompression of neural elements and fusion of spinal pseudoarthrosis, respectively. The author performed the posterior lumbar interbody fusion technique using a Threaded Fusion Cage(T.F.C.) for 41 patients as the surgical treatment for mild spondylolisthesis. All patients enrolled in the study were implanted with a T.F.C. at a single unstable level. We have investigated the outcome results for at least one year(mean 25.8 months). Of these patients 95% have shown solid fusions. Using the Prolo scale for economic and functional rating, the combined results of excellent, good score is 51%, but clinically symptomatic improvement is 66%. Therefore, posterior lumbar interbody fusion using T.F.C. was useful in treatment of mild degree spondylolisthesis.