Posterior-Only Vertebral Column Resection for Fused Spondyloptosis

Retrospective review.

To describe 3 cases of a posterior-only vertebral column resection (pVCR) for the treatment of spondyloptosis in the setting of prior spinal fusions.

Lumbosacral spondyloptosis is a rare spinal deformity with a number of surgical options, none of which demonstrate clear superiority. The use of an L5 vertebral column resection, via combined anterior and posterior approaches, to restore lumbosacral alignment has been described though is accompanied by high rates of neurological deficit.

Review of 3 cases of spondyloptosis with prior spinal fusions in which a staged pVCR was used for deformity reconstruction.

Three females, ages 39, 54, and 28, developed spondyloptosis with progressive lumbosacral kyphosis and sagittal malalignment after prior in-situ posterolateral spinal fusions. All were treated with staged pVCRs. At ultimate follow-up, imaging revealed improvement in sagittal balance of 6.1 cm (56%) in the 39-year-old and 12 cm (67%) in the 54-year-old, 21.1 cm (92%) in the 28-year-old. All patients had improvement in outcome scores with perfect satisfaction scores despite the 54-year-old having a persistent right foot drop.

Posterior-only VCR for spondyloptosis is a technically demanding surgical option offering significant radiographic and clinical improvement, but carries a risk for L5 nerve root deficit as in any spondyloptosis treatment.