OBJECTIVE: There has been an increasing recognition in the literature of the importance of ensuring a correct sagittal and pelvic balance after a surgical procedure in lumbar spine. Recent studys clearly demonstrated a correlation between pelvic balance and surgical outcomes. As the degenerative deformity gradually progresses there is evidence of corresponding alterations in spinopelvic parameters. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the influence of spinopelvic balance in clinical and functional outcomes after surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Retrospective study with 29 subjects (20 females/9 males) with DS submitted to lumbar decompression and fusion between 2006 and 2010. Mean age 65,45 (± 8.15) years old. Mean follow-up 2,1 years. Clinical, functional and radiological evaluation. VAS; Satisfaction; Oswestry disability Index (ODI). Spinopelvic parameters: Pelvic Incidence, Sacral Slope, Pelvic Tilt and Lumbar Lordosis. Two study groups: Group A (n=14) no improvement in pelvic tilt postoperatively (increased or unchanged); Group B (n=15) improvement in pelvic tilt postoperatively (decreased). Statistical analysis with SPSS19®. RESULTS: The surgery is beneficial in reducing pain and improving quality of life. Patients in Goup B (improved spinopelvic balance) have the best clinical and functional results (p<0.05) and also greater pelvic incidence values compared with group A. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the importance of spinopelvic balance in surgical planning: restoring the original spinopelvic balance seems to produce better outcomes.
Spondylolisthesis; Postural balance; Spinal fusion; Lumbar vertebrae; Lumbar vertebrae
