Spondylolisthesis

Changed by Calum Worsley, 8 Oct 2023
Disclosures - updated 12 Apr 2023: Nothing to disclose

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Spondylolisthesis (plural: spondylolistheses) denotes the slippage of one vertebra relative to the one below. 

Terminology

Although etymologically it is directionless (see below) and could be applied to both anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis, in practice, however, spondylolisthesis is used synonymously with anterolisthesis. Often, particularly in the lower lumbar spine, it is due to spondylolysis (pars interarticularis defects) 6

Pathology

Spondylolisthesis can occur anywhere in the vertebral column but is most frequent in the lumbar spine, particularly when due to spondylolysis at L5/S1 ref, and when due to degeneration at L4/5 7

Radiology report

To adequately describe a spondylolisthesis, both the type (see the classification of spondylolisthesis) and grade (see grading of spondylolisthesis) need to be stated. 

History and etymology

Spondylolisthesis is from the Ancient Greek σπονδύλους (spondylous) meaning vertebra and ολίσθηση (olisthesis) meaning slippage 6Rokistanky (Carl von Rokitansky, 1804(1804-1878), an Austrian pathologist, was the first who describedto describe spondylolisthesis in 1839 8.

  • -<p><strong>Spondylolisthesis</strong> (plural: spondylolistheses) denotes the slippage of one vertebra relative to the one below. </p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Although etymologically it is directionless (see below) and could be applied to both <a href="/articles/anterolisthesis">anterolisthesis</a> and <a href="/articles/retrolisthesis">retrolisthesis</a>, in practice, however, spondylolisthesis is used synonymously with <a href="/articles/anterolisthesis">anterolisthesis</a>. Often, particularly in the lower lumbar spine, it is due to <a href="/articles/spondylolysis">spondylolysis</a> (<a href="/articles/pars-interarticularis">pars interarticularis</a> defects) <sup>6</sup>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Spondylolisthesis can occur anywhere in the vertebral column but is most frequent in the lumbar spine, particularly when due to <a href="/articles/spondylolysis">spondylolysis</a> at L5/S1 <sup>ref</sup>, and when due to degeneration at L4/5 <sup>7</sup>. </p><h4>Radiology report</h4><p>To adequately describe a spondylolisthesis, both the type (see the <a href="/articles/wiltse-classification-spondylolisthesis">classification</a><a href="/articles/wiltse-classification-spondylolisthesis"> of spondylolisthesis</a>) and grade (see <a href="/articles/spondylolisthesis-grading-system">grading of spondylolisthesis</a>) need to be stated. </p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>Spondylolisthesis is from the Ancient Greek σπονδύλους (spondylous) meaning vertebra and ολίσθηση (olisthesis) meaning slippage <sup>6</sup>.  <strong>Rokistanky (</strong>1804-1878), an Austrian pathologist, was the first who described spondylolisthesis in 1839 <sup>8</sup>.</p>
  • +<p><strong>Spondylolisthesis</strong> (plural: spondylolistheses) denotes the slippage of one vertebra relative to the one below. </p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>Although etymologically it is directionless (see below) and could be applied to both <a href="/articles/anterolisthesis">anterolisthesis</a> and <a href="/articles/retrolisthesis">retrolisthesis</a>, in practice, however, spondylolisthesis is used synonymously with <a href="/articles/anterolisthesis">anterolisthesis</a>. Often, particularly in the lower lumbar spine, it is due to <a href="/articles/spondylolysis">spondylolysis</a> (<a href="/articles/pars-interarticularis">pars interarticularis</a> defects) <sup>6</sup>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Spondylolisthesis can occur anywhere in the vertebral column but is most frequent in the lumbar spine, particularly when due to <a href="/articles/spondylolysis">spondylolysis</a> at L5/S1 <sup>ref</sup>, and when due to degeneration at L4/5 <sup>7</sup>. </p><h4>Radiology report</h4><p>To adequately describe a spondylolisthesis, both the type (see the <a href="/articles/wiltse-classification-spondylolisthesis">classification of spondylolisthesis</a>) and grade (see <a href="/articles/spondylolisthesis-grading-system">grading of spondylolisthesis</a>) need to be stated. </p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>Spondylolisthesis is from the Ancient Greek σπονδύλους (spondylous) meaning vertebra and ολίσθηση (olisthesis) meaning slippage <sup>6</sup>. <strong>Carl von Rokitansky, </strong>(1804-1878), an Austrian pathologist, was the first to describe spondylolisthesis in 1839 <sup>8</sup>.</p>

References changed:

  • 1. Schneider C & Melamed A. Spondyloysis and Spondylolisthesis; Case Report Clarifying the Etiology of Spondylolysis. Radiology. 1957;69(6):863-6. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1148/69.6.863">doi:10.1148/69.6.863</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13494717">Pubmed</a>
  • 2. Ravichandran G. A Radiologic Sign in Spondylolisthesis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1980;134(1):113-7. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.134.1.113">doi:10.2214/ajr.134.1.113</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6766001">Pubmed</a>
  • 3. Oakley R & Carty H. Review of Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis in Paediatric Practice. Br J Radiol. 1984;57(682):877-85. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1259/0007-1285-57-682-877">doi:10.1259/0007-1285-57-682-877</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6237709">Pubmed</a>
  • 5. Lee J & Shin B. Current Concept on the Classification and Treatment of Spondylolisthesis. J Korean Soc Spine Surg. 2010;17(1):38. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2010.17.1.38">doi:10.4184/jkss.2010.17.1.38</a>
  • 7. Izzo R, Guarnieri G, Guglielmi G, Muto M. Biomechanics of the Spine. Part II: Spinal Instability. Eur J Radiol. 2013;82(1):127-38. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.07.023">doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.07.023</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23088878">Pubmed</a>
  • 8. Schlenzka D. [The History of Spondylolisthesis. The Nineteenth Century: Early Case Reports, Terminology, Etiology and Pathogenesis]. Unfallchirurg. 2015;118 Suppl 1(S1):37-42. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00113-015-0079-7">doi:10.1007/s00113-015-0079-7</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26467266">Pubmed</a>
  • 1. Schneider CC, Melamed A. Spondyloysis and spondylolisthesis; case report clarifying the etiology of spondylolysis. Radiology. 1957;69 (6): 863-6. <a href="http://radiology.rsna.org/content/69/6/863.citation">Radiology (citation)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13494717">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
  • 2. Ravichandran G. A radiologic sign in spondylolisthesis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1980;134 (1): 113-7. <a href="http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/citation/134/1/113">AJR Am J Roentgenol (citation)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6766001">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
  • 3. Oakley RH, Carty H. Review of spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis in paediatric practice. Br J Radiol. 1984;57 (682): 877-85. <a href="http://bjr.birjournals.org/cgi/content/citation/57/682/877">Br J Radiol (citation)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6237709">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
  • 5. Lee J, Shin B. Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery. 2010;17 (1): . <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2010.17.1.38">doi:10.4184/jkss.2010.17.1.38</a><span class="auto"></span>
  • 7. Izzo R, Guarnieri G, Guglielmi G, Muto M. Biomechanics of the spine. Part II: spinal instability. (2013) European journal of radiology. 82 (1): 127-38. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.07.023">doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.07.023</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23088878">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
  • 8. Schlenzka D. Zur Geschichte Der Spondylolisthese. Unfallchirurg. 2015;118(S1):37-42. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00113-015-0079-7">doi:10.1007/s00113-015-0079-7</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26467266">Pubmed</a>

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