Surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis using long arm screw: A literature review

BACKGROUND: Spondylolisthesis refers to anterior displacement of the vertebral body in reference to the bordering vertebral bodies, causing segmental instability, that mostly occurs in the middle lumbar spine and the lumbosacral junction. If surgery is indicated, open technique with lumbar pedicle strew instrumentation is the standard therapy. Recently, minimally-invasive technique can be applied in spondylolisthesis surgery using percutaneous long-arm pedicle screws with a promising short- and long-term outcome. OBJECTIVE: This paper reviews the development of minimally-invasive percutaneous long arm pedicle screws from techniques to reported outcomes. CONCLUSION: Minimally-invasive surgery utilizing advance techniques and instrumentations can give a better outcome in spondylolisthesis surgery associated with lesser blood loss, pain level, and length of hospitalization.