title: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterolateral fusion: Analogous procedures in decreasing the index of disability in patients with spondylolisthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the disability in patients with spondylolisthesis who assigned either to posterolateral fusion (PLF) or posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and to compare it between two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective observational study, 102 surgical candidates with low-grade degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis enrolled from 2012 to 2014, and randomly assigned into two groups: PLF and PLIF. Evaluation of disability has been done by a questionnaire using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The questionnaire was completed by all patients before the surgery, the day after surgery, after 6 months and after 1-year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in terms of age and sex distribution and pre-operation ODI between groups (P > 0.05). Comparison of the mean ODI scores of two groups over the whole study period showed no significant statistical difference (P = 0.074). ODIs also showed no significant differences between two groups the day after surgery, 6(th) months and 1-year after surgery (P = 0.385, P = 0.093, P = 0.122 and P = 433) respectively. Analyzing the course of ODI over the study period, showed a significant descending pattern for either of groups (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both surgical fusion techniques (PLF and PLIF) were efficient to lessen the disability of patients with spondylolisthesis, and none of the fusion techniques were related to a better outcome in terms of disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alijani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamahreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emamhadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behzadnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aramnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahrokh Yousefzadeh
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chabok
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramtinfar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan Kazemnejad
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Leili
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golmohamadi
keywords: Degenerative; Oswestry Disability Index; fusion; isthmic; spondylolisthesis