Computed tomorgaphy diagnostic of lumbar spondylolysis

Abstract

Background. Low back pain is the main reason of reduction in physical activity. The aim of this study was to determine lumbar spine changes in patients with spondylolysis using computed tomography (CT) completed with multiplanar (MPR) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. Material and methods. The investigation was performed on 35 patients at the age from 13 to 79 years suffering from chronic low back pain with recognised lumbar spondylolysis. All these patients were subjected to anteroposterior and lateral radiography, and computed tomography (CT) and CD reconstructions Results. Spondylolysthesis was diagnosed as grade I in thirty patients, grade II in two patients and grade IV in other two patients. No signs of spondylolysthesis observed in three cases. The deformations of intervertebral foramina were confirmed in 26 patients (74.29%) and their craniocaudal narrowing was present in 22 cases (62.86%). The osteophytes around fissure margin of lumbar spondylolysis were found in 20 patients (57.14%). The herniation of nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc was shown in 11 patients (31.43%). The degenerative changes of L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral joints were present in 9 cases (25.71%), whereas the spina bifida of S1 vertebra was stated in four patients (11.43%). Conclusions. 1. High percentage of deformations and narrowing of the intervertebral foramen and the osteophytes around fissure margin of lumbar spondylolysis, and the intervertebral disc herniation were diagnosed in patients with low back pain and spondylolysis using computed tomography completed with MPR and 3D reconstructions. 2. The axial scans completed with multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions are very usefull in diagnostic of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.