Scott wiring for direct repair of lumbar spondylolysis

Study Design. This is a retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent Scott wiring for symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis using the MacNab criteria. Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical outcome of the procedure after a mean follow-up period of more than 10 years. Summary of the Background Data. Previous studies have shown this technique to be effective in the management of patients up to the age of 25 years who have symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis with or without a Grade 1 slip. No study has been published with regard to the long-term outcome of Scott wiring. Methods. Between 1986,and 1993, Scott wiring was performed for 15 patients younger than 25 years of age. who had symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis. MacNab criteria were used to assess their pre- and postoperative status. A postal questionnaire was used to assess their clinical outcome. Their notes also were studied to find subsequent episodes of low back pain. Results. The postoperative questionnaires were returned by 14 patients. The mean follow-up period was 10.9 years. Of the 14 patients, 12 had a "good" or "excellent" result according to MacNab criteria. The two patients classified as "poor" required further procedures for continued low back pain. Conclusions. The Scott wiring technique is recommended for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis in patients younger than 25 years because it gave "good" or "excellent" results in approximately 86% of the patients with a mean follow-up period of 10.9 years.