Surgical Management of Spondylolisthesis in Children and Adolescents

Twenty patients underwent bilateral-lateral column fusion for symptomatic spondylolisthesis which had failed to respond to conservative measures. The average age was 14.5 years and the followup has been 4.3 years. The majority were Grade III or IV. All developed a solid roentgenographic appearance of the fusion within the first year. Nineteen of the 20 obtained good-to-excellent results and have returned to full unrestricted activity. Forty percent of the surgically treated patients had congenital lumbosacral subluxation (Newman Type I) versus 12% of the nonoperative group. In addition, children with Grades III and IV spondylolisthesis were likely to require surgery.