Case Report

L5–S1 SPONDYLOPTOSIS TREATED BY A SINGLESTAGE POSTERIOR APPROACH: AN ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUE

  • A. Ender OFLUOĞLU
  • Ömer Batu HERGÜNSEL
  • Serhat BAYDIN
  • Ömür GÜNALDI
  • Erhan EMEL

Received Date: 01.05.2013 Accepted Date: 16.06.2013 J Turk Spinal Surg 2013;24(3):237-242

A 21-year-old male patient without any history of trauma applied to our clinic with complaints of lower back pain and limited spine mobility. On neurological examination, bilateral straight leg raising tests were positive. There were no motor and/or sensory deficits. A lumbar MRI revealed spondyloptosis at the L5–S1 level. A surgical intervention was planned, in which an S1–L5 transcorporeal polyaxial titanium alloy screw and a fibular strut graft were used, in order to establish interbody fusion. No surgical complications were observed and the patient was discharged without any complaint. Interbody fusion was observed at the twelfth month postoperatively.

L5–S1 spondyloptosis is a rare spinal disease, and treatment modalities are challenging. Efforts to establish reduction may result in neurological deficits and neuropathic pain, due to bilateral traction of L5 nerve roots. This study presents the successful use of an in situ fusion method in this case.

Keywords: Spondyloptosis, L5–S1fusion, in situ fusion, transcorporeal screw