Background:The smiley face rod method is an effective treatment for symptomatic terminal-stage spondylolysis. However, the risk factors for treatment failure are unknown. We investigated the association of pars defect type with the treatment outcomes of this method.
Methods:We retrospectively examined data from 34 patients (18.0 ± 6.7 years) with terminal-stage spondylolysis who underwent surgery using the smiley face rod method.The mean follow-up period was 44.9 ± 21.4 months. The patients were divided into 2 groups: pars defect without bone atrophy or sclerosis (group A; 18 patients), and with bone atrophy and sclerosis (group B; 16 patients). We defined atrophy as a defect with a depression in the defect line that causes the defect to expand and the edge to become asymmetrical. We evaluated and compared the visual analog scale (VAS) score for back pain, bone union rate, and time to return to preinjury level athletics between the groups.Fisher exact and paired Student t tests were used to compare the variables between groups. The VAS score between the groups was compared using a 2-factor repeatedmeasures analysis of variance.Results: Within groups, the VAS score was significantly different over time (p < 0.001). The VAS scores between groups were not significantly different. Patients in Group A had a significantly higher bone union rate per pars at 6 months (group A, 65.7%; and group B, 37.5%, p = 0.028) and 24 months after surgery (group A, 97.1%; and group B, 75.0%, p = 0.011). All patients returned to their respective sports, and no significant differences were observed in the time to return to preinjury level athletics between the groups (p = 0.055).
Conclusion:Pars sclerosis defects are associated with bone nonunion, but have little