How to Grade Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a slippage forward of one of the vertebrae, usually in the lower back. From Latin, "Spondylo" means spine and "listhesis" means slippage. It is harder to pronounce than it is to diagnose. Affecting approximately 5 percent of the population, spondylolisthesis needs minimal to no treatment for the vast majority of people, but can cause pain and even disability in some over time.

Things You'll Need

• Radiologist's report

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Instructions

• 1

  Visit your general practitioner or chiropractor and describe the symptoms. These can range from an unusual clicking in your spine to leg or back pain. Sometimes there are no symptoms and the slippage will show up when you have an unrelated X-ray series.

• 2

  Go for an imaging study. Spondylolisthesis is diagnosed through an X-ray, CT scan or MRI. The physician will make recommendations for which test will provide the clearest result.

• 3

  Obtain a diagnosis and discuss options with the physician. Ask to view the images with her. Being able to see what is happening inside will give you a visual understanding of the slippage involved.

• 4

  Read the written diagnosis. The slippage is graded using the Meyerding Grading System. Visualize your spine as a stack of napkin rings. When one vertebra slips forward over another, the exact amount of slippage is measured and rated as follows:

  Grade one means 1 to 24 percent of a vertebral body has slipped forward; grade two is 25 to 49 percent; grade three is 50 to 74 percent; grade four is 75 to 99 percent; in grade five, the vertebra has completely fallen off and is diagnosed as spondyloptosis.