J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1996 Jul;25(7):1401-1406.

Intertransverse Fusion Versus Posterior Interbody Fusion for the Treatment of the Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

• Kim YB
• Min BK
• Hwang SN
• Suk JS
• Choi DY

Abstract

Thirty patients of symptomatic unstable, medically intractable, degenerative spondylolisthesis were treated by pedicle screw with intertransverse fusion(ITF) or pedicle screw with unilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion(UPLIF). In the ITF, multiple corticocancellous bone chips harvested from posterior iliac bone grafted on the decorticated transverse processes and lateral facet joints after adequate decompression. The UPLIF was performed through unilateral route by using two bicortical bone dowels from anterior iliac bone and chip bones from resected lamina. These two treatment modes compared in terms of symptomatic improvement, fusion rate, and other various parameters related with operation. The follow up period was ranged from 8 months to 44 months. Both precedures showed good result in symptomatic improvement(79% in ITF, 88% in UPLIF) and in fusion rate(93% in ITF, 86% in UPLIF). The UPLIF showed shorter hospital stay(16days vs. 25days), shorter operation running time (329min. vs. 469min.), and need less transfusion(1.1pint vs. 3.7pints) compared with the ITF. The complication rates of both procedures were similar(36% in UPLIF) and all complications resolved within 2 months. The major complication of the ITF was persistent back pain, and nerve injury in the UPLIF.

Keyword

Degenerative spondylolisthesis; Intertransverse fusion; Posterior lumbar interbody fusion

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Decompression
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Running
Spondylolisthesis*
Transplants
Zygapophyseal Joint