title: Radiological and clinical outcome of non surgical management for pediatric high grade spondylolisthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and compare the quality of life of patients with pediatric high-grade spondylolisthesis managed non-operatively and operatively.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Some authors consider pediatric high-grade spondylolisthesis as an absolute indication for surgery, regardless of symptoms while others sometimes recommend observation in asymptomatic patients. Very little is known about the indications and outcome of non-operatively managed high-grade spondylolisthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective database comprising all the spondylolisthesis cases from a single pediatric institution was reviewed in order to identify all cases of high grade spondylolisthesis. Quality of life data from Short form (SF)-12 and Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 questionnaires were collected. Non-operatively treated patients were identified and compared to surgically treated patients at baseline and at last follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  34 spondylolisthesis were identified as high grade and 5 of them were non-operatively treated. Quality of life questionnaires showed less impairment in the non-operative group when compared to the surgical group preoperatively. Moreover at last follow-up, quality of life questionnaires were similar between the two groups. There was no worsening of quality of life observed in non-operative patients during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of life after surgical treatment of high grade spondylolisthesis is similar to that of patients with high grade spondylolisthesis and mild symptoms undergoing non-operative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Université de Montreal.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bourassa-Moreau
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Labelle
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mac-Thiong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult