Normally, the bones of the spine (the vertebrae) stand neatly stacked on top of one another. Ligaments and joints support the spine. Spondylolisthesis alters the alignment of the spine. In this condition, one of the spine bones slips forward over the one below it. As the bone slips forward, the nearby tissues and nerves may become irritated and painful.
Causes
- Fractures from injury
- Joint injury from arthritis or illness.
- Degeneration from overuse or aging.
- Birth defect.
- Spondylolysis, a defect or fracture in the pars interarticularis region.
- Tumors.
- Surgery.
- Weak or torn ligament
Symptoms
- Lower back pain.
- Muscle tightness and stiffness.
- Pain in the buttocks.
- Pain radiating down the legs (due to pressure on nerve roots)
Treatment
Nonsurgical Treatment
- Rest
- Postural correction
- Avoid weight wearing
- Avoid foreword bending
- Medication
- Back support or corsets , belts
- Physiotherapy
Surgery
- Laminectomy (decompression)
- Posterior fusion with or without instrumentation
- Posterior lumbar interbody fusion