L5 pedicle subtraction osteotomy for high-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first article to present a pedicle subtraction osteotomy in the lumbar spine to correct and stabilize a high-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis, which poses many challenges with regard to treatment options and outcomes. The optimal surgical treatment for high-grade spondylolisthesis is controversial, but the goals of treatment are to stabilize the affected spinal levels and to decompress the neural elements. A pedicle subtraction osteotomy is a reconstructive procedure that addresses fixed sagittal imbalance by increasing lumbar lordosis through posterior spinal column shortening. The authors report a 46-year-old patient with chronic, progressively worsening back and leg radiculopathy accompanied by sagittal plane malalignment and for which a pedicle subtraction osteotomy was performed. The procedure yielded stabilization of the patient's lumbar spondylolisthesis and sagittal plane alignment was restoration. At 3 months postoperatively, the patient's pain had fully resolved and her motor and neurologic examination exhibited no deficits. At 24 months postoperatively, she was still symptom-free and ambulating without assistance. This report is the first documented successful pedicle subtraction osteotomy in the treatment of high-grade spondylolisthesis. This report indicates that certain patient populations may be amenable to pedicle subtraction osteotomy as a treatment option for pathology involving high-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis.