Orthopaedic Conditions

CONDITIONS OF THE SPINE

• Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is when one vertebra slips forward over the vertebra below it. Most often, that happens in the low back (lumbar spine) because that part of your spine bears a lot of weight and absorbs a lot of directional pressures. In other words, your lumbar spine has to move quite a bit (rotate in various directions) while carrying your body weight. Sometimes, this combination can put so much stress on the vertebrae that one of them slips forward. It can result from a fracture of the bony roof of the spine or from arthritic changes as the disc and joints become lax due to the aging process. It occurs commonly in adolescence in gymnasts and football players who place their spines under excessive straining while hyperextending their backs. A weak spot in the bony roof of the spine can fail/fracture and result in forwarding slipping of one vertebral bone on the one below it. This slippage can progress with time, resulting in increasing back and/or leg pain when nerve roots become compressed. Treatment for mild discomfort ranges from observation to bracing, therapy, injections, and medications. For severe pain or dysfunction that fails conservative treatment, surgery may be required to stabilize the spine and decompress any compressed nerve roots.