Modified sacrospinalis muscle pedicle bone graft for fusion of isthmic spondylolisthesis

We treated 20 patients with symptomatic L4–5 isthmic spondylolisthesis (ten grade I, nine grade II and one grade III) surgically. All patients complained of low back pain and nine had additional radicular pain. Bilateral posterolateral fusion using the sacrospinalis muscle as a muscle pedicle bone graft was carried out in all patients. Decompression was added in patients with radiculopathy. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 28 months. Pain relief was graded as excellent in 18 patients, radiographic fusion as excellent in 17 patients and functional outcome as excellent in 19 patients.