ehealthyland.com

Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a bone (vertebra) in the lower part of the spine slips forward and onto a bone below it.

Spondylolisthesis describes the anterior displacement of a vertebra or the vertebral column in relation to the vertebrae below. It was first described in 1782 by Belgian obstetrician, Dr. Herbinaux. He reported a bony prominence anterior to the sacrum that obstructed the vagina of a small number of patients. The term “spondylolisthesis” was coined in 1854, from the Greek σπονδυλος = “vertebra” and “ὁλισθος” = “slipperiness”, “a slip”. The variant “listhesis”, resulting from misdivision of this compound word, is sometimes applied in conjunction with scoliosis.These “slips” occur most commonly in the lumbar spine.

A hangman’s fracture is a specific type of spondylolisthesis where the C1 vertebra is displaced anteriorly relative to the C2 vertebra due to fractures of the C2 vertebra’s pedicles.

Spondylolisthesis has many etiologies, all of which ultimately lead to a loss of the stability offered by the locking mechanism of the articular processes of the vertebrae that allow the superior vertebrae to slide forward over the inferior vertebrae (see Anatomy). The etiologies can be classified as congenital (dysplastic), spondylolytic (isthmic), degenerative, traumatic, pathologic, or iatrogenic (eg, postoperative).

The term “Spondylolisthesis” refers to a condition where one of the vertebrae (usually L5) becomes misaligned anteriorly (slips forward) in relation to the vertebra below. This forward slippage – as noted in fig. #1 – is caused by a problem or defect within the pars interarticularis (aka: pars, red arrows fig. #1). Occasionally, facet joint and/or posterior neural arch defects may also cause this syndrome as well. The forward slippage does NOT always occur; however, the par defect, which is considered a non-united childhood fracture by some (134), still may be present. This non-slipped pars defect is called a “Spondylolysis” and is almost always a precursor to the actual forward slippage.

The aforementioned structures (pars interarticularis, facets, neural arch) are responsible for holding the anterior portion of the vertebrae (vertebral body) in perfect alignment. Maintaining this alignment is critical in order to keep the spinal exit-holes, (aka: neuroforamen), which are where the delicate spinal nerves exit the spine, large and open. Any narrowing of the neuroforamen may result in compression of the ultra-sensitive exiting spinal nerve root and dorsal root ganglia that in turn may well result in back pain.

Spondylolisthesis is a condition of the spine whereby one of the vertebra slips forward or backward compared to the next vertebra. Forward slippage of one vertebra on another is referred to as anterolisthesis, while backward slippage is referred to as retrolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis can lead to a deformity of the spine as well as a narrowing of the spinal canal (central spinal stenosis) or compression of the exiting nerve roots (foraminal stenosis).

Incoming search terms:

• spondylolisthesis
• Pictures Spondylolisthesis
• degenerative spondylolisthesis
• spondylolisthesis spine
• anterolisthesis
• lumbar spondylolisthesis
• spondylothesis
• spondylolithesis
• spondylolisthesis pictures
• pictures of spondylolisthesis