Reduction of severe lumbosacral spondylolisthesis. A report of 22 cases with a ten-year follow-up period.
Severe spondylolisthesis produces a kyphos at the lumbosacral junction. Reduction can be complicated by injury to the cauda equina. To prevent this, a posterior decompression and fusion is carried out before a slow reduction in extension. An anterior fusion with internal fixation then locks the reduction. Using these principles, a good reduction was achieved in 20 of 22 patients. Only two patients suffered a permanent neurologic deficit consisting of slight loss of ankle dorsiflexion. Severe spondylolisthesis can be safely reduced by this method.
O'Brien
J P
JP
Department for Spinal Disorders, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire, United Kingdom.
Mehdian
H
H
Jaffray
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D014143:Traction