Turkish Neurosurgery 2012 , Vol 22 , Num 5
Surgical Results of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Patients Over 70 Years Old: A Single-Center Experience and Clinical Outcomes
Cem ATABEY1, Selcuk GOCMEN1, Hakan SIMSEK2, Emre ZORLU1, Mehmet Nusret DEMIRCAN1, Ahmet COLAK1, Cem DINC3
1GATA Haydarpasa Education Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
2Kasimpasa Military Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
3Memorial Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.5981-12.1 AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate results of surgery in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis (DS) patients over 70 years old.

MATERIAL and METHODS: This is a non-randomized retrospective analysis of the clinical outcome of 34 patients older than 70 years who underwent surgery. At the end of two-year follow-up period, preoperative and postoperative courses were assessed by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scales (VAS).

RESULTS: The mean age was 75 years (range 70-86 years). The mean duration of symptoms was 13.5 years (range 2-30 years). All patients underwent physiotherapy and also 15 (11 female, 4 male) patients used brace. L4-L5 was the most commonly affected level (n=26), Preoperative ODI and VAS scores were mean 71,63 (range 34-100) and 6,77 (range 2-9) (p<0,05). Postoperative ODI and VAS scores were mean 22,73 (range 0-100) and 2,13 (range 0-10) (p<0,05). Patients were asked if they had known the outcome, would they accept surgical treatment or not. 86.6% (n=26) of the patients answered the question positively.

CONCLUSION: A conventional decompressive laminectomy with foraminotomy and posterolateral fusion in situ with transpedicular instrumentation is necessary and reduces pain and recovers functional disability in elderly patients over 70 years old with DS. Keywords : Degenerative spine, Spondylolisthesis, Surgery, Transpedicular fixation

Corresponding author : Selcuk Gocmen, s_gocmen@yahoo.com