Study design: A retrospective, comparative follow-up study.
Objective: To compare clinical and radiographic outcomes after posterolateral, anterior, or circumferential fusion in situ for high-grade spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents.
Summary of background data: Controversial opinions still exist about the surgical treatment of severe isthmic spondylolisthesis. There are no long-term comparative studies of different fusion in situ techniques in these patients.
Methods: A total of 21 patients treated using posterolateral, 23 using anterior, and 26 using the circumferential fusion technique without instrumentation for high-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis (>or=50% slip) participated. Their mean age at surgery was 14.4 years (range 8.0-19.6). The follow-up rate was 84% after a mean of 17.2 years (range 10.7-26.0). Radiographs were obtained before surgery, at 2-year follow-up, and at final follow-up. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) and Oswestry Disability Index questionnaires were completed, and a physical examination was performed at the final follow-up visit.
Results: Progression of lumbosacral kyphosis (>or=10 degrees ) was found in 9 (43%), 3 (13%), and 3 (12%) patients of the posterolateral, anterior, and circumferential fusion groups, respectively (P = 0.017). The SRS total score averaged 89.7 (range 56-105) in the posterolateral, 93.2 (range 66-114) in the anterior, and 100.0 (range 71-117) in the circumferential fusion groups (P = 0.021). Patients in the circumferential fusion group had better values for pain (P = 0.023) and function from back condition domains (P = 0.079) than patients in the posterolateral or anterior groups. The Oswestry Disability Index averaged 9.7 (range 0-62) in the posterolateral, 8.9 (range 0-32) in the anterior, and 3.0 (range 0-16) in the circumferential fusion groups (P = 0.035).
Conclusions: Circumferential fusion provided significantly better long-term clinical, radiographic, and SRS total score than posterolateral or anterior fusion for high-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis.