Spondylolistheses

There is the true spondylolisthesis or

Isthmic, created by a mechanical cause in a spondylolysis and

the degenerative spondylolisthesis.

The latter is part of the pathology of the posterior vertebral joints.

True spondylolisthesis consists of a forward slipping of the spine at the fifth lumbar vertebra.

Isthmic Spondylolisthesis

It is divided into 5 grades:

1- At the first grade we have forward slipping up to 25% of the body length of the first sacral vertebra

2- at the second grade up to 50%

3- at the third up to 75%

4- at the fourth up to 100%

5- at the fifth the spine has fully slid.

Until the second grade it is usually asymptomatic or in some cases the patient feels mild aching in the waist which reflects in the buttocks after intense fatigue.

After the third grade, symptoms depend on the extent of involvement of the nerve roots.

Diagnosis

Many people with spondylolisthesis will have no symptoms and will realize when discovered at an x-ray for a different problem. However, there are several symptoms that often accompany spondylolisthesis:

• Lower back pain (especially after exercise)
• Increased lordosis
• Pain and / or weakness in one or both thighs or legs
• Reduced ability to control bowel and bladder function

In cases of advanced spondylolisthesis changes may occur in the way they stand and walk. The spondylolisthesis causes the abdomen to protrude more because the increased lordosis. The trunk (chest, etc.) may seem smaller.

Treatment

Treatment is usually conservative for the first grades of spondylolisthesis, with exercising of the deep lumbar stabilizers muscles, exercises to reduce lordosis and according the case, application of an anti-lordotic SPONDYLOS bending brace.

At advanced stages, treatment is clearly surgical with fusion of L5 and S1.