Surgical fusion in childhood spondylolisthesis.
Twenty cases of surgical fusion for spondylolisthesis were reviewed at the Scottish Rite Hospital (Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.) to determine whether a procedure other than a simple posterolateral fusion is necessary for most patients. The patients were treated postoperatively with pantaloon spica cast immobilization. The fusion rate was high (90%), and patient satisfaction was high. One patient developed neurologic loss postoperatively. Two patients' slips progressed greater than 10% before solid fusion occurred. Thus, bilateral posterolateral fusion, followed by pantaloon spica cast immobilization, is effective for patients with symptomatic spondylolisthesis or asymptomatic children with grade 3 or greater slips. Reduction was not performed in this series.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001510:Bed Rest; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery*