Abstract
A retrospective long-term evaluation in 31 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis treated by posterolateral fusion combined with pedicle screw fixation was done. The mean follow-up period was 10.8 years. The fusion rate was 100%, but corrected sagittal alignment was not maintained during the follow-up period. The mean recovery rate was 54.1%. Patients were divided into four groups according to their clinical outcomes. Six patients needed further surgery for adjacent problems (mean recovery rate before second surgery: 10.6%). Seven patients had some symptoms related to adjacent levels (mean recovery rate: 24.2%). Five patients had abnormal motion of adjacent levels without any symptoms (identical rate: 64.6%). Thirteen patients had no problems (identical rate: 66%). Adjacent problem were one of the factors that caused long follow-up poor surgical results. Hypolordotic alignment of fused segment was considered to be related to the adjacent problems.
