Rong Xing1, Qingyu Dou, Xiaolong Li, Yin Liu, Qingquan Kong, Qi Chen, Quan Gong, Jiancheng Zeng, Hao Liu, Yueming Song. 1. *Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China †Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China ‡Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China §Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a novel surgical method for treating patients with lumbar spondylolysis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of posterior ISOBAR TTL stabilization of the lumbar spine with direct pars repair using Wiltse approach for the treatment of lumbar spondylolysis with or without slight spondylolisthesis and discuss the indications of this surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgical treatment of lumbar spondylolysis has yielded relatively good results. However, there are still many limitations of the current surgical methods, including, adjacent level degeneration, restricted indications, and soft tissue damage. METHODS: Between August 2010 and January 2013, 13 (9 males and 4 females; mean age: 28.2 yrs), patients with lumbar spondylolysis with or without slight spondylolisthesis underwent posterior ISOBAR TTL stabilization of the lumbar spine, with direct pars repair via Wiltse approach. All patients were followed up for at least 24 months at outpatient visits or telephonically. Pre-operative and postoperative radiological assessments included anteroposterior, lateral and flexion extension radiographs, 3-dimensional reconstruction computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Data pertaining to intraoperative blood loss, duration of operation, visual analog score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and other assessments were collected. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 36 months (range, 24-53 months). Surgery was successful in all patients with no complications; bony fusion of pars was confirmed on CT scan at postoperative 2 years. Significant pain relief was achieved in all patients including those with discogenic pain, those >30 years of age, and those with severe disc degeneration (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We evaluated a new surgical technique for the treatment of patients with spondylolysis with or without slight spondylolisthesis. Besides the good clinical results, the indications for this new surgery are much wider and can potentially overcome the limitations of earlier techniques. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a novel surgical method for treating patients with lumbar spondylolysis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of posterior ISOBAR TTL stabilization of the lumbar spine with direct pars repair using Wiltse approach for the treatment of lumbar spondylolysis with or without slight spondylolisthesis and discuss the indications of this surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgical treatment of lumbar spondylolysis has yielded relatively good results. However, there are still many limitations of the current surgical methods, including, adjacent level degeneration, restricted indications, and soft tissue damage. METHODS: Between August 2010 and January 2013, 13 (9 males and 4 females; mean age: 28.2 yrs), patients with lumbar spondylolysis with or without slight spondylolisthesis underwent posterior ISOBAR TTL stabilization of the lumbar spine, with direct pars repair via Wiltse approach. All patients were followed up for at least 24 months at outpatient visits or telephonically. Pre-operative and postoperative radiological assessments included anteroposterior, lateral and flexion extension radiographs, 3-dimensional reconstruction computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Data pertaining to intraoperative blood loss, duration of operation, visual analog score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and other assessments were collected. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 36 months (range, 24-53 months). Surgery was successful in all patients with no complications; bony fusion of pars was confirmed on CT scan at postoperative 2 years. Significant pain relief was achieved in all patients including those with discogenic pain, those >30 years of age, and those with severe disc degeneration (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We evaluated a new surgical technique for the treatment of patients with spondylolysis with or without slight spondylolisthesis. Besides the good clinical results, the indications for this new surgery are much wider and can potentially overcome the limitations of earlier techniques. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.