Abstract

The clinical efficacy of reduction and fusion surgery and the suitable range of fusion-segment were evaluated in 12 pediatric patients treated for high-grade spondylolisthesis. Pre/post-operative clinical and radiological assessments were analyzed. A transient L5 nerve root paralysis was observed in one patient with L5 spondylolisthesis. No degenerative spondylolisthesis or adjacent segmental instability occurred above the fusion segments. In conclusion, we suggest that, in case of spondylolisthesis without severe structural scoliosis deformity or only associated with lumbosacral deformity, the posterior ligament complex should be protected in case of adjacent segmental instability and spondylolisthesis. If the spondylolisthesis is complicated with severe structural scoliosis deformity (Cobb ≥ 70°), in principle, the treatment should be performed according to the characteristics of the two diseases respectively.