Results of degenerative spondylolisthesis treated with posterior decompression alone via a new surgical approach

Abstract

<jats:p content-type="fine-print"><jats:italic>Object.</jats:italic> The purpose of this study was to assess radiologically demonstrated results and clinical outcomes in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis who underwent posterior decompressive surgery via a new (unilateral) approach. This approach allows surgeons to perform central and bilateral decompression while only stripping the muscles unilaterally, thus preserving the posterior osteoligamentous complexes.</jats:p> <jats:p content-type="fine-print"><jats:italic>Methods.</jats:italic> The authors evaluated 51 consecutive patients in whom surgery was performed between 1987 and 1996. The mean follow-up period was 4.7 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the pre- and postoperative measurements in percentage of vertebral slippage. Postoperative dynamic angulation statistically decreased compared with its preoperative value (p &lt; 0.05). Improvement of an average of 67% was shown on the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale, and in 78% of these patients, good to excellent results were demonstrated. Secondary fusion was required in only three patients (5.9%).</jats:p> <jats:p content-type="fine-print"><jats:italic>Conclusions.</jats:italic> This new surgical technique offers a potential alternative for the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis in a minimally invasive manner, avoiding the risk of causing or aggravating postoperative spinal instability.</jats:p>

Soft Stabilization With an Artificial Intervertebral Ligament in Grade I Degenerative Spondylolisthesis: Comparison With Instrumented Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

“…1-4 -4 4 Others insist that concomitant spinal arthrodesis should be added to decompression to prevent recurrence of symptoms and maximize functional outcome. 5,6 Although some clinical studies have supported simple decompression in select groups of patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis, 1,3,4,7 evidence that concomitant spinal arthrodesis enhances patients' clinical outcomes has been accumulating. 5,8-14 ,8-14 4 Since the prospective randomized study of Herkowitz and Kurz 5 and the meta-analysis of Mardjetko et al, 15 the predominant-though not unanimous-opinion in the spinal community has been that additional spinal stabilization procedures may improve the surgical outcome of patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis.…”

Perioperative outcomes in minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery: A systematic review

“…Kinoshita et al [11] performed laminotomies for single level decompression, and sometimes performed laminectomies for multiple level decompression. It can be argued that laminotomy vs laminectomy is a distinction without a difference, but including laminotomies would then bring a number of microdiscectomy techniques into the range of covered studies.…”

Baastrup's Disease Is Associated with Recurrent of Sciatica after Posterior Lumbar Spinal Decompressions Utilizing Floating Spinous Process Procedures

“…The retrospective case-controlled study included patients who had undergone posterior decompression surgery using a spinous process floating approach [456] to lumbar canal stenosis at our institutions from January 2009 to December 2011 and were followed-up at least 1 year. We analyzed cases in 161 patients, including 129 men and 32 women.…”

“…Two surgical procedures were included in the present series: the spinous process splitting approach [56] and a spinous process retracting approach [4]. Both produced subsequent floating of the spinous process.…”