Spinopelvic alignment after interspinous soft stabilization with a tension band system in grade 1 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.
METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in spinopelvic alignment after interspinous soft stabilization (ISS) with a tension band system and to identify the lumbosacral parameters related to those changes and to determine their impact on the clinical outcomes compared with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in patients with low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).


BACKGROUND
The sacropelvic morphometric changes after fusion surgery have received much research attention. However, few reports have addressed the issue after use of dynamic or soft stabilization systems.


METHODS
From April 2001 to November 2003, 45 patients presenting with grade 1 DS with stenosis underwent either ISS with a tension band system (ISS group) or PLIF with pedicle screw fixation (PLIF group). The mean follow-up period was 76.8 months. Three pelvic parameters, the sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence, were investigated to address the sacropelvic morphometric change. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale score, the Oswestry Disability Index, and the patient's satisfaction index.


RESULTS
Both groups showed significant improvements in all of the clinical outcomes, with no significant differences between groups. In the ISS group, the SS increased and PT decreased, whereas in the PLIF group, the SS decreased and PT increased, resulting in pelvic anteversion and retroversion, respectively, with significant intergroup differences in SS and PT (SS: P = 0.047; PT: P = 0.01). The positive association of lumbar lordosis with SS (r = 0.448) and its negative association with PT (r = -0.674) in the respective groups indicate the influence of changes in lumbar lordosis on pelvic positional changes. Significant correlations between follow-up segmental lumbar lordosis and the visual analog scale score for leg pain (r = -0.685) and Oswestry Disability Index score (r = -0.425) were found in the ISS group alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Segmental lordotic change after ISS with a tension band system was the possible decisive factor in the development of pelvic anteversion while maintaining sagittal lumbar balance; lack of lumbar lordosis led to compensatory pelvic retroversion in the PLIF group. Considering the comparable clinical results with PLIF surgery and the achievement of physiologic sagittal spinopelvic balance, the ISS procedure can be a feasible alternative to fusion surgery in patients with grade 1 DS with stenosis.
Department of Neurosurgery, Wooridul Spine Hospital, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Sang-Ho
SH
Lee
June-Ho
JH
Lee
Soon-Woo
SW
Hong
Seung-Eun
SE
Chung
Seung-Hwa
SH
Yoo
Ho-Yeon
HY
Lee
D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010388:Pelvis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome