Residual gait abnormalities in surgically treated spondylolisthesis

Preoperative and Postoperative, Three-dimensional Gait Analysis in Surgically Treated Patients With High-grade Spondylolisthesis

BACKGROUND

High-grade spondylolisthesis (HGS) (Myerding grade III-V) in adolescents can lead to a marked alteration of gait pattern and maybe the presenting symptom in these patients. This characteristic gait pattern in patients with HGS has been referred to as the "pelvic waddle." Modern 3-dimensional (3D) gait analysis serves an important tool to objectively analyze the different components of this characteristic gait preoperatively and postoperatively and is an objective measure of postoperative improvement.This study demonstrates the use of 3D gait analysis preoperatively and postoperatively in a cohort of 4 consecutive patients with HGS treated surgically at a single tertiary referral center and utilize this to objectively evaluate outcome of surgical treatment in these patients. This has not been reported previously in a cohort of patients.

METHODS

This is a prospective analysis of patients with HGS who underwent surgical intervention for spondylolisthesis at a single institution. Patient demographics, clinical, and radiologic assessment were recorded, and all patients underwent 3D gait analysis before and after surgical intervention. Kinetic, kinematic, and spatial parameters were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively for all patients. This allowed the outcome of change in gait deviation index, before and after surgical treatment, to be evaluated.

RESULTS

We were able to review complete records of 4 adolescent patients who underwent surgical treatment for HGS. Mean age at surgery was 13.5 years with a minimum follow-up of 2.5 years postoperatively (average 40 mo). Preoperative gait analysis revealed marked posterior pelvic tilt in 2 patients, reduced hip and knee extension in all 4 patients and external foot progression in 3 of the 4 patients. Along with an observed improvement in gait, there was an objective improvement in gait parameters postoperatively in all 4 patients. Gait deviation index score improved significantly from 78.9 to 101.3 (mean).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative gait abnormalities exist in HGS and can be objectively analyzed with gait analysis. Surgical intervention may successfully resolve these gait abnormalities and gait analysis is a useful tool to assess the outcome of surgery and quantify an otherwise intangible benefit of surgical intervention.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV-case series.

The impact of surgical reduction of high-grade lumbosacral spondylolisthesis on proximal femoral angle and quality of life

BACKGOUND CONTEXT

Abnormal proximal femoral angle (PFA) was recently found to be associated with deteriorating sagittal balance and quality of life (QoL) in high-grade spondylolisthesis (HGS). However, the influence of PFA on the QoL of patients undergoing surgery remains unknown.

PURPOSE

This study compares the pre- and postoperative measurements of sagittal balance including PFA in patients with lumbosacral HGS after surgery. It also determines if PFA is a radiographic parameter that is associated with QoL in patients undergoing surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Thirty-three patients (mean age 15.6 ± 3.0 years) operated for L5-S1 HGS between July 2002 and April 2015. Thirteen had in situ fusion and 20 had reduction to a low-grade slip.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcome measures included PFA and QoL scores measured from the Scoliosis Research Society SRS-30 QoL questionnaire.

METHODS

The minimum follow-up was 2 years. PFA and QoL were compared pre- and postoperatively. Statistical analysis used nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests, Chi-square tests to compare proportions, and bivariate correlations with Spearman's coefficients.

RESULTS

A decreasing PFA correlated with less pain (r = -0.56, p = .010), improved function (r = -0.51, p = .022) and better self-image (r = -0.46, p = .044) postreduction. Reduction decreased PFA by 5.1° (p = .002), whereas in situ fusion did not alter PFA significantly. Patients with normal preoperative PFA had similar postoperative QoL regardless of the type of surgery, except for self-image, which improved further with reduction (3.73 ± 0.49 to 4.26 ± 0.58, p = .015). Patients with abnormal preoperative PFA tended to have a higher QoL in all domains after reduction.

CONCLUSION

Decreasing PFA correlates with less pain, better function and self-image. Reduction of HGS decreases PFA. Reduction also relates to a better postoperative QoL when the preoperative PFA is abnormal. When the preoperative PFA is normal, in situ fusion is equivalent to reduction except for self-image, which is better improved after reduction.

Current Evidence Regarding the Treatment of Pediatric Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Report From the Scoliosis Research Society Evidence Based Medicine Committee

STUDY DESIGN

Structured literature review.

OBJECTIVES

The Scoliosis Research Society requested an assessment of the current state of peer-reviewed evidence regarding pediatric lumbar spondylolisthesis to identify what is known and what research remains essential to further understanding.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Pediatric lumbar spondylolisthesis is common, yet no formal synthesis of the published literature regarding treatment has been previously performed.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed. From 6600 initial citations with abstract, 663 articles underwent full-text review. The best available evidence regarding surgical and medical/interventional treatment was provided by 51 studies. None of the studies were graded Level I or II evidence. Eighteen of the studies were Level III, representing the current best available evidence. Thirty-three of the studies were Level IV.

RESULTS

Although studies suggest a benign course for "low grade" (<50% slip) isthmic spondylolisthesis, extensive literature suggests that a substantial number of patients present for treatment with pain and activity limitations. Pain resolution and return to activity is common with both medical/interventional and operative treatment. The role of medical/interventional bracing is not well established. Uninstrumented posterolateral fusion has been reported to produce good clinical results, but concerns regarding nonunion exist. Risk of slip progression is a specific concern in the "high grade" or dysplastic type. Although medical/interventional observation has been reported to be reasonable in a small series of asymptomatic high-grade slip patients, surgical treatment is commonly recommended to prevent progression. There is Level III evidence that instrumentation and reduction lowers the risk of nonunion, and that circumferential fusion is superior to posterior-only or anterior-only fusion. There is Level III evidence that patients with a higher slip angle are more likely to fail medical/interventional treatment of high-grade spondylolisthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The current "best available" evidence to guide the treatment of pediatric spondylolisthesis is presented.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III; review of Level III studies.

Clinical outcome of trans-sacral interbody fusion after partial reduction for high-grade l5-s1 spondylolisthesis

STUDY DESIGN

A clinical retrospective study was conducted.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcome of reduction followed by trans-sacral interbody fusion for high-grade spondylolisthesis.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

In situ posterior interbody fusion with fibula allograft has improved the fusion rates for patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis. The use of this technique in conjunction with partial reduction has not been reported.

METHODS

Nine consecutive patients underwent treatment of high-grade (Grade 3 or 4) spondylolisthesis with partial reduction followed by posterior interbody fusion using cortical allograft. The average age at the time of surgery was 27 years (range, 8-51 years), and the average follow-up period was 43 months (range, 24-72 months). Before surgery, eight patients had low back pain, seven patients had radiating leg pain, and five patients had hamstring tightness. The average grade of spondylolisthesis by Meyerding grading was 3.9 (range, 3-5). Charts and radiographs were evaluated, and outcomes were collected by use of the modified SRS outcomes instrument.

RESULTS

Radiographic indexes demonstrated significant improvement with partial reduction and fusion. The slip angle, as measured from the inferior endplate of L5, improved from 41.2 degrees (range, 24-82 degrees ) before surgery to 21 degrees (range, 5-40 degrees ) after surgery. All the patients were extremely or somewhat satisfied with surgery. The two patients who underwent this operation without initial instrumentation experienced fractures of their interbody grafts. Both of these patients underwent repair of the pseudarthrosis with placement of trans-sacral pedicle screw instrumentation and subsequent fusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Partial reduction followed by posterior interbody fusion is an effective technique for the management of high-grade spondylolisthesis in pediatric and adult patient populations, as assessed by radiographic and clinical criteria. Pedicle screw instrumentation with the sacral screws capturing L5 is recommended when this technique is used for the treatment of high-grade spondylolisthesis. According to the clinical and radiographic results from this study, partial reduction and posterior fibula interbody fusion supplemented with pedicle screw instrumentation is an effective technique for select patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis at L5-S1.

Disorders in trunk rotation during walking in patients with low back pain: a dynamical systems approach

OBJECTIVE

(1) To introduce an evaluation tool for the assessment of walking disorders in low back pain patients. (2) To investigate whether walking patterns in low back pain patients are different from those of control subjects.

DESIGN

Relative phase measures of movement coordination are applied in the assessment of trunk function in a small group of patients with non-specific low back pain and in control subjects.

BACKGROUND

Normal subjects change the coordination of pelvic and thoracic rotations from an in-phase to an out-of-phase pattern with increasing walking speed. Low back pain patients may have a reduced ability to counter rotate pelvis and thorax at higher walking speeds (from 1.0 m/s onwards) as a result of hyperstable coordination patterns.

METHODS

Six patients with non-specific low back pain and six healthy control subjects walked on a treadmill at comfortable walking speeds and during a systematic variation of the treadmill velocity. Coordination of arm and leg movements as well as of pelvic and thoracic rotations was analyzed using a relative phase algorithm.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The comfortable walking speed was reduced in the patient group. In contrast to the control subjects, four of the six patients were not able to establish an out-of-phase coordination pattern between thorax and pelvis at higher walking speeds. This coincided with an increased stability of movement coordination, indicating guarded behavior. In addition, an increased asymmetry between the phase-relations of left and right side of the body was found in some of the patients.