ABSTRACT

The incidence of spondylolisthesis varies between 4-6 % in adult population. However, the incidence of isthmic spondylolisthesis is 2.6–4.4 %. It occurs in the sagittal plane by subluxation of a vertebral body through the other vertebral body. The aim of this study is to determine the changes in sagittal lumbosacral balance, which is a spinal instability parameter, after the surgical treatment in the isthmic spondylolisthesis and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the surgery in restoration of spinal stability

Twenty-six patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbosacral isthmic spondylolisthesis in our study between January 2011 and June 2016 were studied retrospectively. They were classified according to Wiltse’s criteria. Preoperative and postoperative Meyerding Slip Ratio (Grade), Slip Angle (SA), Lumbar Lordosis (LL), Lumbosacral Kyphosis Angle (LSK) and Sacral Slope (SS) measurements were performed and compared.

A total of 26 patients with isthmic lumbosacral spondylolisthesis were enrolled in this study. The patient population included 13.1 % (n = 6) male and 76.9 % (n = 20) female. The mean age was 54.08 ± 12.74 years. 61.5 % (n = 16) of the cases were subtype A, 30.8 % (n = 8) were subtype B and 7 % (n = 2) were subtype C. The difference between preoperative and postoperative slip displacement and slip angle was statistically significant (p = 0.001; p <0.01).

Isthmic spondylolisthesis is a clinically occurring condition in middle age group, especially in women. The surgery is effective in recovery of the clinical features of these patients and restoration of the lumbosacral alignment. The most obvious improvement in the balance between the spine and the pelvis is the slip displacement and slip angle.