Is there increased intervertebral mobility in isthmic adult spondylolisthesis? A matched comparative study using roentgen stereophotogrammetry

Abstract

Study design: By roentgen stereophotogrammetric technique, the intervertebral mobility of the spondylolytic segment in eight patients was measured and compared with the mobility of eight nonspondylolytic patients matched according to sex, afflicted segment, and grade of disc degeneration.

Objectives: To compare the intervertebral mobility of a spondylolytic segment with the mobility of a segment without spondylolysis in adult patients with back pain.

Summary of background data: Evidenced by the resulting olisthetic deformity and supported by the outcome from prior investigations, spondylolysis is assumed to induce spinal segmental instability/hypermobility.

Methods: After percutaneous application of tantalum indicators for roentgen stereophotogrammetric technique, the intervertebral translations of the spondylolytic fifth lumbar vertebra were measured in eight adult patients with low back pain and low-grade olisthesis. Eight other patients without spondylolysis but with low back pain presumably on degenerative basis were chosen for comparison and had an identical measuring procedure using roentgen stereophotogrammetric technique. The two groups were matched in pairs according to sex, afflicted segment, and grade of disc degeneration.

Results: No significant difference was registered considering the intervertebral mobility for matched pairs in the two groups neither along the sagittal nor the vertical axis. The transverse translations were mostly negligible in both groups.

Conclusion: The spondylolytic defect in pars interarticularis does not cause permanent instability/hypermobility detectable in the adult patient with low back pain and low-grade olisthesis.