SpondylolisthesisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a bone (vertebra) in the spine moves forward, out of its proper position, in relation to the bone below it.
Low back pain - spondylolisthesis; LBP - spondylolisthesis; Lumbar pain - spondylolisthesis; Degenerative spine - spondylolisthesis
In children, spondylolisthesis usually occurs between the fifth bone in the lower back (lumbar vertebra) and the first bone in the sacrum (pelvis) area. It is often due to a birth defect in that area of the spine or sudden injury (acute trauma).
In adults, the most common cause is abnormal wear on the cartilage and bones, such as arthritis. The condition mostly affects people over 50 years old. It is more common in women than in men.
Bone disease and fractures can also cause spondylolisthesis. Certain sports activities, such as gymnastics, weightlifting, and football, greatly stress the bones in the lower back. They also require that the athlete constantly overstretch (hyperextend) the spine. This can lead to a stress fracture on one or both sides of the vertebra. A stress fracture can cause a spinal bone to become weak and shift out of place.
Symptoms of spondylolisthesis may vary from mild to severe. Many people with spondylolisthesis have no symptoms. Children may not show symptoms until they're 18 years old.
The condition can lead to increased and abnormal lordosis (also called swayback). In later stages, it may result in kyphosis (roundback) as the upper spine falls off the lower spine.
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Lower back pain
- Muscle tightness (tight hamstring muscle)
- Pain, numbness, or tingling in the thighs and buttocks
- Lower back stiffness
- Tenderness in the area of the vertebra that is out of place
- Weakness in the legs
- Difficulty with bladder or bowel control
Treatment depends on how severely the vertebra has shifted out of place. Most people get better with exercises that stretch and strengthen lower back muscles.
If the shift is not severe, you can play most sports if there is no pain. Most of the time, you can slowly resume activities.
You may be asked to avoid contact sports or to change activities to protect your back from being overextended.
You will have follow-up x-rays to make sure the problem is not getting worse.
Your provider may also recommend:
- A back brace to limit spine movement
- Pain medicine (taken by mouth or injected into the back)
- Physical therapy
Surgery may be needed to fuse the shifted vertebrae if you have:
- Severe pain that does not get better with treatment
- A severe shift of a spine bone
- Weakness of muscles in one or both of your legs
- Difficulty with controlling your bowels or bladder
There is a chance of nerve injury with such surgery. However, the results can be very successful.
Carolinas Medical Center
Anthony Asher is a Neurosurgery provider in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Asher is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spondylolisthesis. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Cervical Myelopathy, Brain Tumor, Laminectomy, and Spinal Fusion. Dr. Asher is currently accepting new patients.
Maxim Brain And Spine
John Knightly, a long-standing member of the medical staffs at Morristown Memorial Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center, is a practicing neurosurgeon with 30 years of experience and a subspecialty interest in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. He is the Past-President, Atlantic Neurosurgical Specialists and Altair Health as well as Chief of Quality, Atlantic Neuroscience Institute. He currently serves as the Vice President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) as well as Chairman of the Neurosurgical Quality Council of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee.A multi-timed named Castle Connelly Top-Doctor recipient, both regionally and nationally, his other areas of specialty interest and research include health care policy, outcomes and registry science, and quality improvement on which he has published extensively. He has served as Chair of the Joint Section on Disorders of Spine and Peripheral Nerves for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) as well as chair of the of the Quality Improvement Workforce of the AANS/CNS and the AANS representative to the AANS/CNS Washington Committee. Dr Knightly has also served as an unaffiliated neurosurgical consultant for the NFL.On a national basis, Dr Knightly is a Past Chairman, Board of Directors, for NeuroPoint Alliance and was appointed a founding member of the executive committee of the newly created American Spinal Registry (ASR) on which he still serves. He is a former Vice-Chairman and Director on the American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS) and has had appointments on several committees within the AANS, American College of Surgeons as well as the National Quality Forum. Dr. Knightly is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spondylolisthesis. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Cervical Myelopathy, Cervical Spondylosis, Laminectomy, and Spinal Fusion.
GMC Neurosurgery
Dr. Slotkin is board certified in neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. His clinical interests include care for back and neck pain, as well as sports-related spine injuries, and he has particular interests in consumerism and the digital transformation of healthcare. His research interests include post spinal cord injury regeneration. Dr. Slotkin has expertise in spine outcomes, caring for degenerative and congenital spine conditions, spinal tumors and spine/spinal cord injury. He earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland, and completed his residency at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital. He completed his fellowship in spine surgery at New England Baptist Hospital. Dr. Slotkin is director of Spinal Surgery for Geisinger and also serves as associate chief medical informatics officer. Dr. Slotkin is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spondylolisthesis. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Delirium, Invertebral Disc Disease, Laminectomy, and Spinal Fusion.
Exercises and changes in activity are helpful for most people with mild spondylolisthesis.
If too much movement occurs, the bones may begin to press on nerves. Surgery may be necessary to correct the condition.
Other complications may include:
- Long-term (chronic) back pain
- Infection
- Temporary or permanent damage of spinal nerve roots, which may cause sensation changes, weakness, or paralysis of the legs
- Difficulty controlling your bowel or bladder
- Arthritis that develops above the level of the slippage
Contact your provider if:
- Your back appears to have a severe curve
- You have back pain or stiffness that does not go away
- You have pain in the thighs and buttocks that does not go away
- You have numbness and weakness in legs
- You have trouble controlling bowel movements or urination
Summary: The Viper Prime/Expedium spine systems are intended to provide immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in skeletally mature patients as an adjunct to fusion in the treatment of acute and chronic instabilities or deformities of the thoracolumbar and sacral spine. The Fibergraft Bioactive Glass (BG) is engineered to mimic the body's natural bone healing process. While previous studies ha...
Summary: This study aims to systematically evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of dual-channel endoscopic spinal decompression versus lumbar decompression with fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Patients undergoing either procedure will undergo detailed preoperative and postoperative follow-up to compare outcomes between the two techniques, specifically assessing postoperative pain relief, neu...
Published Date: August 27, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Porter AST. Spondylolisthesis. In: Giangarra CE, Manske RC, eds. Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: A Team Approach. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 80.
Williams KD. Spondylolisthesis. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 40.