Results of Treatments in Spondylolisthesis and Pseudospondylolisthesis Concerning Pain in the Lower Limbs

Abstract

The 38 cases of spondylolisthesis and 48 of pseudospondylolisthesis were analysed based on clinical symptoms and functional radiograms.
In spondylolisthesis, 17 patients complained of low-back pain alone, 10 complained of transient pain in the lower limbs, 6 complained of leg pain with decreased or disappeared ankle jerk, and 5 had sciatica with motor and sensory disturbances. 25 patients had stable lumbar spine and 10 had unstable spine.
In Pseudospondylolisthesis, 12 patients complained of low-back pain alone, 11 complained of transient pain, 8 complained of leg pain with decreased ankle jerk and 9 had real radicular sciatica.
The cases with sciatica with motor or sensory disturbances had the poorest result in conservative treatments. As for instability, the result of management had no relation in light worker but had poor result in heavy worker.
In 14 out of 21 operatively treated cases, the causes of sciatica were identified: Arachinitis localisata in 3 cases, extradural scar tissue and thickened lig. flavum in 3 cases, adhesion of L₅ nerve root or dura mater to the lysis part in two cases and no causes found in 5 cases.