Scoliosis in dysplastic spondylolisthesis: a clinical survey of 50 young patients

BACKGROUND: Dysplastic spondylolisthesis is a rare spinal deformity that occurs mainly in young patients. Although its sagittal parameters had been well stated, coronal abnormalities in these patients were poorly studied. The purposes of this study were: (1) to investigate the prevalence of scoliosis in dysplastic spondylolisthesis;(2) to assess scoliosis resolution or persistence after surgery; and (3) to propose a modified classification of scoliosis associated with dysplastic spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Fifty patients (average age 14.9 ± 5.6 years) diagnosed with dysplastic spondylolisthesis who underwent surgical treatment were followed up and their data were analyzed. Standing posteroanterior and lateral full spine radiographs were used to measure the coronal and sagittal parameters. Patients with scoliosis, which was defined as a coronal Cobb angle greater than 10°, were divided into three groups according to their curve characteristics: “independent” scoliosis (IS) group, spasm scoliosis (SS) group, and olisthetic scoliosis (OS) group. SS and OS were spondylolisthesis-induced scoliosis. The radiographic parameters and patient-reported outcomes were collected before and after surgery and compared between groups. RESULTS: The average slip percentage was 62.8% ± 23.1% and the average follow-up time was 51.5 ± 36.4 months (range 3–168 months). Twenty-eight of the 50 (56%) dysplastic spondylolisthesis patients showed scoliosis, of which 8 were IS (24.7° ± 15.2°), 11 were SS (13.9° ± 3.0°), and 9 were OS (12.9° ± 1.9°). By the last follow-up, no scoliosis resolution was observed in the IS group whereas all SS patients were relieved. Of the nine patients with OS, four (44.4%) had scoliosis resolution after surgery. CONCLUSION: Distinguishing different types of scoliosis in dysplastic spondylolisthesis patients may help surgeons to plan treatment and understand prognosis. For patients with significant scoliosis, whether “independent” or spondylolisthesis-induced, treatment of spondylolisthesis should be performed first and scoliosis should be observed for a period of time and treated according to the corresponding principles.