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Scott wiring for direct repair of lumbar spondylolysis
Zahid Askar1, Douglas Wardlaw, Manjunath Koti
1Department of Orthopaedics, Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. zahidaskar@hotmail.com
Study Design:
This is a retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent Scott wiring for symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis using the MacNab criteria.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to assess the clinical outcome of the procedure after a mean follow-up period of more than 10 years.
Summary Of The Background Data:
Previous studies have shown this technique to be effective in the management of patients up to the age of 25 years who have symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis with or without a Grade 1 slip. No study has been published with regard to the long-term outcome of Scott wiring.
Methods:
Between 1986 and 1993, Scott wiring was performed for 15 patients younger than 25 years of age who had symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis. MacNab criteria were used to assess their pre- and postoperative status. A postal questionnaire was used to assess their clinical outcome. Their notes also were studied to find subsequent episodes of low back pain.
Results:
The postoperative questionnaires were returned by 14 patients. The mean follow-up period was 10.9 years. Of the 14 patients, 12 had a "good" or "excellent" result according to MacNab criteria. The two patients classified as "poor" required further procedures for continued low back pain.
Conclusions:
The Scott wiring technique is recommended for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis in patients younger than 25 years because it gave "good" or "excellent" results in approximately 86% of the patients with a mean follow-up period of 10.9 years.
