R Lengert1, Y P Charles2, A Walter2, S Schuller2, J Godet3, J-P Steib2. 1. Service de Chirurgie du Rachis, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle (FMTS), Université de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. Electronic address: regis.lengert@chru-strasbourg.fr. 2. Service de Chirurgie du Rachis, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle (FMTS), Université de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France. 3. Département de Santé Publique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle (FMTS), Université de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg cedex, France.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: High-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis alters sagittal spinopelvic balance, which can cause low back pain and progressive neurologic disorder. The present study assessed spondylolisthesis reduction and maintenance over time with L4-S1 versus L5-S1 fusion using a lever-arm system and posterior fusion combined with lumbosacral graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were operated on for symptomatic high-grade spondylolisthesis, 34 of whom had full pre- and post-operative radiological analysis, with a mean follow-up of 5.4years. There were 9 L5-S1 and 25 L4-S1 instrumentations. Analysis of spinopelvic and slipping parameters and the evolution of segmental lordosis compared results between L5-S1 and L4-S1 instrumentation. RESULTS: Mean Taillard spondylolisthesis index decreased from 64% to 37% (P=0.0001). Overall sagittal spinopelvic balance was not significantly changed. Overall L1-S1 and segmental L4-L5 lordosis were not affected by instrumentation. Mean L5-S1 segmental lordosis increased from 11° to 18°. There was loss of reduction from 19° to 14° with L5-S1 instrumentation, in contrast to maintained reduction with L4-S1 instrumentation (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: The lever-arm system provided anterior-posterior reduction of spondylolisthesis and corrected slippage. Postoperative change in overall sagittal spinopelvic balance was slight and constant. Posterior L4-S1 fusion provided better long-term control of L5-S1 lordosis reduction than the shorter L5-S1 fusion. Retrospective study of level IV.
INTRODUCTION: High-grade L5-S1 spondylolisthesis alters sagittal spinopelvic balance, which can cause low back pain and progressive neurologic disorder. The present study assessed spondylolisthesis reduction and maintenance over time with L4-S1 versus L5-S1 fusion using a lever-arm system and posterior fusion combined with lumbosacral graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were operated on for symptomatic high-grade spondylolisthesis, 34 of whom had full pre- and post-operative radiological analysis, with a mean follow-up of 5.4years. There were 9 L5-S1 and 25 L4-S1 instrumentations. Analysis of spinopelvic and slipping parameters and the evolution of segmental lordosis compared results between L5-S1 and L4-S1 instrumentation. RESULTS: Mean Taillard spondylolisthesis index decreased from 64% to 37% (P=0.0001). Overall sagittal spinopelvic balance was not significantly changed. Overall L1-S1 and segmental L4-L5 lordosis were not affected by instrumentation. Mean L5-S1 segmental lordosis increased from 11° to 18°. There was loss of reduction from 19° to 14° with L5-S1 instrumentation, in contrast to maintained reduction with L4-S1 instrumentation (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: The lever-arm system provided anterior-posterior reduction of spondylolisthesis and corrected slippage. Postoperative change in overall sagittal spinopelvic balance was slight and constant. Posterior L4-S1 fusion provided better long-term control of L5-S1 lordosis reduction than the shorter L5-S1 fusion. Retrospective study of level IV.