Long-term clinical, functional and radiological outcome 21 years after posterior or posterolateral fusion in childhood and adolescence isthmic spondylolisthesis.

Long-term radiological studies have shown that a high rate of fusion can be achieved with posterolateral spondylodesis. Radiological findings, however, do not always correlate with patient satisfaction and outcome. No studies have been conducted on the long-term results of functional outcome, including spinal mobility and trunk strength measurements, after operative treatment of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, as compared with the reference population.