OUTCOMES OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF DEGENERATIVE SPONDYLOLISTHESIS THROUGH AN ANTERIOR APPROACH

Objective. To summarize personal experience in the surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis and to present the authors’ approach to selecting the optimal surgical technique depending on the degree of verte­bral displacement and clinical and neurological manifestations.                        

Materials and Methods. The surgical treatment outcomes of 42 patients who underwent surgery for Grade I–II degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis were analyzed. Discectomy, reduction of the displaced vertebra, and in­terbody fusion using titanium cages filled with autologous bone graft were performed through an anterior retroper­itoneal approach. Treatment outcomes were assessed based on clinical and radiological data at 1 to 3 years postop­eratively.         

Results. Among the 42 patients who underwent surgery for Grade I–II degenerative spondylolisthesis, good clinical outcomes were observed in 36 patients (86%), while satisfactory outcomes were observed in 6 patients (14%). In all patients, a solid interbody bone fusion was achieved with preservation of the obtained segmental correction.    Conclusion. Anterior interbody fixation using titanium cages is a pathogenetically justified and effective method for the treatment of Grade I–II degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.