Background & Purpose: Lumbar spondylolisthesis frequently causes a sagittal imbalance of the spine because it frequently co-occurs with other abnormalities, including forward slip and kyphosis. Spinopelvic sagittal balance is critical in spondylolisthesis assessment and treatment. The traditional fixation placement method, referred to as "short segment fixation," involves placing pedicle screws into the lower and slipping vertebral bodies. The upper vertebrae received additional pedicle screws, resulting in a long segment fixation.
This study was conducted to assess the results of long-segment with posterolateral fusion fixation (Long-segment PLF) versus short-segment fixation with interbody fusion (Short-segment PLIF) for the treatment of high-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis.
Study design: It was designed as a prospective, randomized comparison study.
Setting: -- Al Azhar university hospitals.
Subjects: According to the used surgical technique, we recruited 60 high-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis patients into 2 independent groups: the long-segment PLF group, including 30 patients, and the short-segment PLIF group, including 30 patients.
Methods: Each patient underwent thorough history-taking, neurological testing, and a VAS for back and leg pain. Pre-operative radiological assessment included (X-rays and MRI) and assessment of the Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA score). Posterior decompression with insitu posterior transpedicular screw fixation and posterolateral fusion by long segment [long-segment] fixation; and posterior decompression, reduction, and transpedicular screw fixation [short segment] with interbody fusion were the surgical techniques used. Post-operative outcome measures include VAS scale back and leg pain, post-operative JOA score, complications rate, along with patient satisfaction outcome.