Comparative analysis of minimally invasive surgical decompression and fusion surgery in the treatment of stable stage i lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis complicated by spinal stenosis

Purpose: a comparative analysis of long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of bilateral microsurgical decompression from unilateral approach and open fusion surgery in the treatment of patients with stable stage I lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis complicated by spinal stenosis. Materials and methods: this study included 83 patients with degenerative stage I lumbar spondylolisthesis, combined with spinal stenosis at one/several levels. Bilateral microsurgical decompression from unilateral approach was performed in group A (n = 41), in group B (n = 42) we used transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Results: intraoperative blood loss and operation time significantly prevailed in group B (P < 0,05). Pain in the legs (VAS), Oswestry disability index significantly decreased in both groups in the long-term postoperative period. No statistical difference in these was found in groups A and B (P = 0,59; P = 0,10). Lower back pain in both groups at the follow-up period had a significant difference: in fusion group there was a significantly higher intensity, than in group А (P < 0,001). Assessment of radiological outcomes in group A at the level of spondylolisthesis showed a slight decrease in segment stability: an increase in anteroposterior displacement of the vertebrae by an average of 0,44 mm, the angular difference by 0,77°, an increase in displacement of the vertebral body by 1,30 % (P < 0,05). Conclusion: minimally bilateral microsurgical decompression from unilateral approach is an effective method for treatment of stable stage I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, combined with spinal stenosis, allowing to achieve significant regression of leg pain and disability in the long-term postoperative period. And this method admits to significantly decrease of low back pain, then in fusion surgery, as well as a low risk of postoperative instability and reoperation with instrumentation.