"Isthmic" spondylolisthesis--an analysis of the clinical and radiological presentation in relation to intraoperative findings and surgical results in 72 consecutive cases.

72 patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis have been analyzed prospectively with respect to their clinical presentation, radiological and intraoperative findings, operative techniques and surgical results. Excellent, good and satisfactory results have been obtained in 59 (82%), 10 (14%) and 3 patients (4%), respectively, by use of microsurgical techniques in combination with Louis-plate-fixation in Grade I and double arthrodesis/Cotrel-Dubousset-instrumentation in Grade II spondylolisthesis.