title: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. A prospective study comparing decompression with decompression and intertransverse process arthrodesis.
abstract: Fifty patients who had spinal stenosis associated with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were prospectively studied clinically and radiographically to determine if concomitant intertransverse-process arthrodesis provided better results than decompressive laminectomy alone. There were thirty-six women and fourteen men. The mean age of the twenty-five patients who had had an arthrodesis was 63.5 years and that of the twenty-five patients who had not had an arthrodesis, sixty-five years. The level of the operation was between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae in forty-one patients and between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae in nine patients. The patients were followed for a mean of three years (range, 2.4 to four years). In the patients who had had a concomitant arthrodesis, the results were significantly better with respect to relief of pain in the back and lower limbs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan.
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Herkowitz
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Kurz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*