Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.16(3) > 1035859

Chung and Jeon: Surgical Treatment of Degenerative and Isthmic Spondylolisthesis

Abstract

The etiology of spondylolisthesis, which determines the pathoanatomy and natural course, includes the abnormal development of lumbosacrum and various acquired conditions. Many patients with symptomatic degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis respond to non-surgical treatments, such as modification of their daily activity, medication, physical therapy and nerve block. Surgical treatment is indicated for intractable pain, neurological symptoms and the progression of slip. The natural course and patient's demographics are also considered. Decompression of the neural stenosis and the fusion of segmental instability are the main surgical treatments of degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis Fusion and instrumentation should be chosen carefully for degenerative spondylolisthesis if it is stable. However, solid fusion is the most important procedure for isthmic spondylolisthesis. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion is an effective treatment regarding an anatomical restoration of slip, decompression of neural structures and optimal fusion for degenerative and isthmic spondylolisthesis.

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Table 1.
Classification by Wiltse et al
Type
I Dysplastic A: facet with axial orientation
B: facet with sagittal orientation
II Isthmic A: lysis
B: elongation
C: fracture
III Degenerative
IV Post-traumatic
V Pathologic
VI Postsurgical
Table 2.
Marchetti and Bartolozzi classification
Developmental Acquired
High dysplastic Traumatic
   With lysis Acute fracture
   With elongation Stress fracture
Postsurgical
   Direct
   Indirect
Low dysplastic Pathologic
   With lysis    Local
   With elongation    Systemic
Degenerative
   Primary
   Secondary
Table 3.
Conservative modalities for treatment of spondylolisthesis
Rest
Activity modification
Drugs
   - Analgesics
   - Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
   - Systemic steroids
   - Antidepressants
Injection techniques
   - Epidural steroid
   - Foraminal steroid
Physical therapy
   - Exercises
   - Education
   - Cognitive intervention
   - Corsets and braces
   - Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
   - Acupuncture
Table 4.
Indication of fusion and instrumentation for degenerative spondylolisthesis
Preoperative factors Intraoperative factors
1. Disc height > 2 mm 1. extent of decompression procedure
2. Existence of kyphosis 2. correction of listhesis
3. Degenerative scoliosis 3. available bone stock
4. Degree of instability >5 mm listhesis
5. Degree of listhesis > grade II slip
6. Previous laminectomy
7. Adjacent segment disease
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