Improved Pain and Quality of Life with Corrected Thoracic and Lumbosacral Spondylolisthesis Subluxations Using CBP®: A Case Study and 1-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

Objective: Discuss non-surgical spinal rehabilitation for a 27-year-old male with thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolistheses. A selective literature review and discussion are provided.

Clinical features: A 27-year-old male presented with severe, 8/10 mid and low back pain. Initial lateral thoracic and lumbar x-rays revealed grade 1 spondylolistheses at T9-T10 and L5-S1 measuring -5.3 mm and -6.8 mm.

Interventions and outcomes: The patient completed 60 sessions of Mirror Image® spinal adjustments, exercises, and traction over 30 weeks. Post-treatment x-rays showed correction in translations at T9-T10 and L5-S1 from -5.3 mm to 0.0 mm and -6.8 mm to -1.0 mm, within normal limits. 1-year follow-up x-rays showed maintained correction.

Conclusions: This case is the first documented evidence of non-surgical or chiropractic treatment for thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolistheses where spinal alignment was corrected. More research is needed to investigate the clinical implications and applications.

Keywords: Chiropractic BioPhysics; Lumbosacral spondylolisthesis; Mirror Image; Spinal Adjustments; Spinal Rehabilitation; Spinal Traction; Thoracic spondylolisthesis; sagittal spinal alignment; sagittal spinal balance; thoracic spine alignment.

Figure 1

27-year-old male with corrected thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolisthesis subluxations using CBP^® Description: A 27-year-old male who presented with severe, 8/10 middle and low back pain and a thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolistheses. Image Features: The green line represents a normal, ideal cervical alignment. The red line represents the actual posterior tangent lines of the C2–C7 vertebrae. The posterior tangent lines are used to measure the ARA and RRA of the vertebrae listed following the ARA and RRA abbreviation. Findings: A) Pre-treatment NLC radiograph shows ARA C2–C7 measuring −9.0° (ideal is −42.0°), Tz C2–C7 measuring 21.8 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm), and cervical kyphosis (curve reversal) from C3–C5 measuring 5.3° (ideal is −16.0°); B) Post-treatment NLC radiograph shows improvements in ARA C2–C7 from −9.0° to −22.7° and ARA C3–C5 cervical curve reversal was corrected from 5.3° to −10.3°; C) 1-year follow-up NLC radiograph shows maintained improvements in ARA C2–C7 at −21.7° and ARA C3–C5 cervical curve reversal correction at −9.3°. Technique: 200mAs, 30mA, 86kVp, 72” FFD, Central Ray (CR) at C4.

Figure 2

27-year-old male with corrected thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolisthesis subluxations using CBP^® Description: A 27-year-old male who presented with severe, 8/10 middle and low back pain and a thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolistheses. Image Features: The green line represents a normal, ideal thoracic alignment. The red line represents the actual posterior tangent lines of the T1–T12 vertebrae. The posterior tangent lines are used to measure the ARA and RRA of the vertebrae listed following the ARA and RRA abbreviation. The yellow line and text represent the spondylolisthesis measurement. Findings: A) LT radiograph shows ARA T1–T12 measuring 20.9° (ideal is 44.0°), Tz T1–T12 measuring 36.4 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm), grade 1 spondylolisthesis at T9–T10 measuring −5.3 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm), and thoracic lordosis (curve reversal) from T9–T12 measuring −4.8° (ideal is 9.0°); B) Post-treatment LT radiograph shows improvements in ARA T1–T12 from 20.9° to 42.0°, Tz T1–T12 from 36.4 mm to 1.9 mm; Tz T9–T10 spondylolisthesis was corrected from −5.3 mm to −0.1 mm, and ARA T9–T12 thoracic curve reversal from −4.8° to 5.2°; C) 1-year follow-up LT radiograph shows maintained improvements in ARA T1–T12 at 40.2°, Tz T1–T12 at 3.8 mm, Tz T9–T10 spondylolisthesis correction at 0.0 mm, and ARA T9–T12 thoracic curve reversal correction at 4.3°. Technique: 200mAs, 80mA, 80kVp, 40” FFD, Central Ray (CR) at T6.

Figure 3

27-year-old male with corrected thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolisthesis subluxations using CBP^® Description: A 27-year-old male who presented with severe, 8/10 middle and low back pain and a thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolistheses. Image Features: The green line represents a normal, ideal lumbar alignment. The red line represents the actual posterior tangent lines of the T12-L5 vertebrae. The posterior tangent lines are used to measure the ARA and RRA of the vertebrae listed following the ARA and RRA abbreviation. The yellow line and text represent the spondylolisthesis measurement. Findings: A) Pre-treatment LL radiograph shows ARA L1–L5 measuring −23.7° (ideal is −40.0°), Tz T12-S1 measuring −11.8 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm), grade 1 spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 measuring −6.8 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm), thoracolumbar kyphosis (curve reversal) from T12-L2 measuring 8.6° (ideal is −6.0°), and SBA measuring 21.5° (ideal is 40.0°); B) Post-treatment LL radiograph shows improvements in ARA L1–L5 from −23.7° to −34.6°, Tz L5-S1 spondylolisthesis was corrected from −6.8 mm to −0.9 mm, ARA T12-L2 thoracolumbar curve reversal was corrected from 8.6° to −2.7°, and SBA from 21.5° to 29.6°; C) 1-year follow-up LL radiograph shows maintained improvements in ARA L1–L5 at −34.2°, Tz L5-S1 spondylolisthesis correction at −1.0 mm, ARA T12-L2 thoracolumbar curve reversal correction at −2.8°, and SBA measuring 28.3°. Technique: 200mAs, 200mA, 80kVp, 40” FFD, Central Ray (CR) at L4.

Figure 4

27-year-old male with corrected thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolisthesis subluxations using CBP^® Description: A 27-year-old male who presented with severe, 8/10 middle and low back pain and a thoracic and lumbosacral spondylolistheses. Image Features: The green line represents a normal, ideal cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral alignment. The red line represents the actual posterior tangent lines of the C2-S1 vertebrae. The posterior tangent lines are used to measure the ARA and RRA of the vertebrae listed following the ARA and RRA abbreviation. The blue line represents C7 centroid plumb line. Findings: A) Pretreatment stitched LFS radiograph shows Tz C1-S1 measuring 40.1 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm), Tz C7-S1 measuring 22.7 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm), Tz T1-S1 measuring 19.6 mm (ideal is 0.0 mm); B) Post-treatment stitched LFS radiograph shows improvements in Tz C1-S1 from 40.1 mm to 4.7 mm, Tz C7-S1 from 22.7 mm to −3.5 mm, and Tz T1-S1 from 19.6 mm to −2.5 mm; C) 1-year follow-up stitched LFS radiograph shows maintained improvements in Tz C1-S1 at 3.7 mm, Tz C7-S1 at −5.5 mm, and Tz T1-S1 at −3.5 mm. Technique: Varied; see Figures 1–3 for respective x-ray technique factors.