Repair of pars interarticularis defect with a modified cable-screw construct

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Symptomatic spondylolysis often requires operative intervention when conservative treatments fail.
• Direct pars defect repair techniques exist, but return-to-sport data is limited.
• This study evaluates a modified screw-cable fixation with bone grafting for pars interarticularis defects.

Observation:

• Three athletes with symptomatic spondylolysis or grade I spondylolisthesis were treated.
• The surgical technique involved bone grafting and screw-cable fixation.
• A retrospective analysis assessed return to sports, clinical function, and radiographic healing.

Findings:

• All three athletes achieved radiographic and clinical success.
• Patients reported resolution of back pain and successful return to athletic activities.
• One athlete experienced occasional low back pain requiring anti-inflammatory medication.

Implications:

• The modified screw-cable technique offers excellent clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes for symptomatic spondylolysis.
• This surgical approach can facilitate return to sports for affected athletes.
• Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to confirm these findings.