Abstract
Spondylolysis can be associated with severe back or leg pain requiring surgical management.
Fusion is the most often performed procedure since disk degeneration is frequently present. In a limited number of cases, when there is no disk disease or only limited dehydration, isthmic reconstruction may be considered, saving mobility and avoiding adjacent level stress.
We review 30 patients submitted to L4 or L5 posterior arch reconstruction and 60 patients submitted to a one level (L4L5 or L5S1) posterior or interbody fusion.
Through Prolo scores, SF36 and Oswestry questionnaires, the every day, professional and sports functional and satisfaction rates are evaluated.
Present data fail to show better functional results in the isthmic reconstruction group. However, even longer follow up will be necessary in these groups of young adults with a great life expectancy to show potentially less degenerative deterioration in adjacent levels. Meanwhile, isthmic reconstruction proved to be an effective technique, comparable to fusion in patients with no associated disk disease, with no need for further surgery and minimal complications.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
