title: Radiographic analysis of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of adult isthmic spondylolisthesis.
abstract: The radiographs of 35 consecutive adult patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis who underwent a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with one or two Brantigan carbon fiber cages and pedicle screw instrumentation were evaluated. Anterolisthesis, disk space height, and slip angle were measured in preoperative and postoperative standing neutral radiographs. Anterolisthesis was reduced and disk space height was increased with the TLIF procedure. Average slip angle, however, was not significantly altered. The restoration of lordosis across the listhetic disk space correlated with a more anterior placement of the interbody cage within the disk space. The TLIF technique, performed with the Brantigan cage and pedicle screw instrumentation, appears to be able to restore disk height and reduce forward translation in patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis, but improvement in sagittal alignment is dependent upon anterior placement of the interbody device.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. briankkwon@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berta
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Daffner
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hilibrand
authors.forename: Jonathan N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Grauer
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beiner
authors.forename: Todd J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Albert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome