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Introduction to Spondylolisthesis
Risk Factors for Spondylolisthesis
- Age - progression is highly likely during adolescent growth spurts. The younger the age at onset of a vertebral lesion, the higher the probability of slip progression
- Gender - females are four times more likely to develop spondylolisthesis than males.
- Pregnancy may be a risk factor
- Osteoarthritis in older people can lead to degenerative spondylolisthesis
- Diabetics appear to be more prone to degenerative spondylolisthesis
- Traumatic injury - if an injury which causes spondylolysis does not heal properly in an adolescent, it can progress to spondylolisthesis
Activity in sports - certain types of sports appear to put some children and adolescents in a high-risk category for spondylolysis due to continued hyperextension of the lumbar spine. Damage to the pars is noted in 25-40% of sports-related lower back pain. High risk sports include:
- gymnastics
- diving
- football
- pole-vaulting
- weight-lifting
- wrestling
- dancing
- high-jumping
Back pain - investigation into generalized back pain may uncover existent but possibly asymptomatic spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis
