Clinical results of partial laminectomy without fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes of microsurgical partial laminectomy without fusion for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. Forty-four patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis who had undergone surgery were retrospectively examined for the study. The subject consisted of 23 men and 21 women whose mean age at surgery was 66 (range, 45 to 82). Preoperative JOA scores averaged 13.7 while postoperative JOA scores at the time of the final follow-up averaged 23.1. Postoperative progression of lumber slippages was minimal in most cases, and there was only one case where further surgery was needed 12 years after the initial surgery. A microsurgical partial laminectomy without fusion can decompress the lumbar segment while preserving posterior elements of the facet joints, and may prevent progression of low back pain. Moreover, this less invasive technique may be useful for elderly patients.