Abstract
To elucidate the advantages of posterolateral fusion (PLF) and posterior decompression as a treatment for degenerative spondylolisthesis, we compared the radiographic and clinical results of patients treated with PLF and posterior decompression (Group 1) and those who were given no particular treatment (Group 2). Group 1 consisted of six females and Group 2 consisted of two males and 12 females for a total of 14 subjects. Both groups were evaluated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score for low back pain for clinical outcome. The radiographic findings of both groups were also studied to assess the progression of slippage or instability of the lumbar spine. The JOA scores of both groups were not significantly different. However, the low back pain score of Group 1 was significantly higher than that of Group 2. Although there was no difference between %slip of the involved level of the first consult and those of the last follow-up in both groups, disc height of the involved level in Group 1 was significantly decreased during the follow-up period. There was no correlation found between %slip and JOA score. There were no marked radiographic changes of the adjacent disc levels observed in either groups in this study. The patients in Group 2, who did not undergone surgery, presently suffer from severe low back pain and desire relief from this pain. The advantage of PLF and posterior decompression is to provide relief from low back pain and PLF and posterior decompression should be considered when severe low back pain is present in degenerative spondylolisthesis.
