Spondylolisthesis: Conditions & Treatment

Spondylolisthesis is the medical term used to describe a condition resulting from the displacement of the spine's vertebrae. The condition can be debilitating in extreme cases. Spondylolisthesis is usually the result of a bone defect known as spondylolysis, bone disease, congenital birth defects, spinal trauma or tumors, and spine degeneration due to aging. Spondylolisthesis can be treated once it is properly diagnosed.

Symptoms of Spondylolisthesis

• Some people show few symptoms other than occasional back pain. Those who do may experience a wide variety. These include back, buttock, or leg pain; electric shocks down the spine; stiffness of the back or legs that leads to limping; swayback; and tingling, numbness, or weakness in the feet and legs. In severe cases, nerve damage caused by the condition can result in additional symptoms, including numbness in the genital area and problems releasing stool or urine. The latter symptoms indicate a serious condition known as cauda equina syndrome and should be treated immediately.

Diagnosis Testing

• To diagnose spondylolisthesis, physicians may run one or more specialized tests. These could include a CT (computed tomography) scan, bone scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, or X-ray.

Treatments for Spondylolisthesis

• Treatment for the condition depends upon its severity, the type of vertebrae slip, and the amount of pain felt by the patient. If the slip is minor, no treatment may be required other than observation and curtailing of certain types of activities. In a few instances bedrest may be required temporarily.

  More problematic vertebrae slips could result in bone stress or fracture. These can be treated with special medical equipment such as a back brace, cast, or corset. These are designed to keep the spine properly aligned. Such equipment may be necessary for the short term, while fractures or nerve compressions heal, or for the long term, for patients wishing to avoid surgery.

  When vertebrae slippage is major, severe nerve compression is apparent, or fractures don't heal by other methods, surgery may be required. Decompressive laminectomy may be performed to adjust vertebrae. Endoscopic surgery works well where nerve damage is severe. It removes or repairs the cause of the damage. A laminectomy may be used to remove lamina sections that cannot be repaired. If the spine remains unstable, spine fusion might be done to prevent future problems.

  If chronic pain is present, analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may be prescribed. Severe pain may temporarily be treated with narcotic analgesics such as codeine. In rare instances, blocking agents of corticosteroids may be injected into the spine to curtail chronic pain. In each case some form of physical therapy will be required, possibly for the long term. In some instances a doctor or physical therapist will work with the patient to learn new ways of performing tasks like twisting, kneeling, squatting, and lifting. These may be necessary in order to prevent re-damaging of the spinal area.