NATURAL HISTORY OF GRADE ONE LUMBOSACRAL ISTHMIC SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IN ADOLESCENT PATIENTS: LONG TERM FOLLOW-UP OF 299 PATIENTS TREATED CONSERVATIVELY

Abstract

Purpose of the Study: The aim is to report the natural history, type of treatment received and quality of life improvement of adolescent patients with isthmic low-grade lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with a slip of less than 25%. Methods: The complete records of 299 prospective patients (127 males and 172 females) with isthmic low-grade lumbosacral spondylolisthesis referred to an orthopedic clinic were reviewed. Radiological parameters, Micheli scale, and quality of life measured by the SRS-22 questionnaire were measured at the first visit and a minimum 5-year follow-up. Results: The average follow-up time is 5.7 ± 1.4 years. The main complaint at the initial presentation was lower back pain in 107 patients, and three patients had lower back pain and lower limbs radiculopathy. Scoliosis was found in 38 patients in the initial radiograph. One-hundred-eighty-nine patients (63%) were asymptomatic at the time of presentation. At the last follow-up; SRS-22 were 4.21 ± 0.6, 4.21 ± 0.7, 4.31 ± 0.5, 4.21 ± 0.7, 4.2 ± 0.7 for total, pain, function, mental, and self-image scores, respectively. The patients with grade one lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with normal morphology of the sacrum had responded well to the nonsurgical treatment modalities. No patient has progressed during the follow-up, and no patient underwent surgical intervention for back pain. The slip percent was relatively lower in patients with low back pain. The average slip percentage was 15.5 ± 8.4 among the asymptomatic patients and 13 ± 9 among patients who presented with low back pain ([Formula: see text]-value = 0.009). Conclusion: Adolescent patients with grade one isthmic lumbosacral spondylolisthesis have very good prognosis with nonoperative modalities and they have an almost normal quality of life at the end of follow-up. A long follow-up in an outpatient clinic with X-Rays series might not be indicated for all patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis, specifically if the slip is less than 25%.