Abstract

Lytic olisthesis is an accepted cause of low back pain and may also be associated with leg pain. When conservative treatment fails, operative management with fusion and if necessary decompression is considered. Most reports regarding surgical management in the literature relate to children or adolescents. This paper reviews 75 adult cases treated by in situ pedicular fixation and posterolateral fusion with simultaneous decompression in 55 cases. The mean follow-up was 72 months. Ninety-six percent of the cases had a satisfactory clinical outcome, and this correlates closely with a solid fusion. This approach therefore appears to be safe and successful in the treatment of symptomatic low-grade lytic spondylolisthesis in adults.