title: Comparison of functional outcomes following surgical decompression and posterolateral instrumented fusion in single level low grade lumbar degenerative versus isthmic spondylolisthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The two most common types of surgically treated lumbar spondylolisthesis in adults include the degenerative and isthmic types. The aim of this study was to compare the functional outcomes of surgical decompression and posterolateral instrumented fusion in patients with lumbar degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, we reviewed the clinical outcomes in surgically treated patients with single level, low grade lumbar degenerative, and isthmic spondylolisthesis (groups A and B, respectively) from August 2007 to April 2011. We tried to compare paired settings with similar initial conditions. Group A included 52 patients with a mean age of 49.2 ± 6.1 years, and group B included 52 patients with a mean age of 47.3 ± 7.4 years. Minimum follow-up was 24 months. The surgical procedure comprised neural decompression and posterolateral instrumented fusion. Pain and disability were assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. The Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare indices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common sites for degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis were at the L4-L5 (88.5%) and L5-S1 (84.6%) levels, respectively. Surgery in both groups significantly improved VAS and ODI scores. The efficacy of surgery based on subjective satisfaction rate and pain and disability improvement was similar in the degenerative and isthmic groups. Notable complications were also comparable in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neural decompression and posterolateral instrumented fusion significantly improved pain and disability in patients with degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis. The efficacy of surgery for overall subjective satisfaction rate and pain and disability improvement was similar in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Orthopedic and Trauma Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Omidi-Kashani
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Orthopedic and Trauma Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim Ghayem
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hasankhani
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic and Trauma Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Dawood
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.affiliation: College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khanzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Degenerative spondylolisthesis; Fusion; Instrumentation; Isthmic spondylolisthesis; Lumbar spine