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. 2024 Jan-Mar;15(1):30-36.
doi: 10.4103/jcvjs.jcvjs_136_23. Epub 2024 Mar 13.

A radiological parametric comparison of low-grade lytic spondylolisthesis to degenerative spondylolisthesis - A retrospective approach to establish its dysplastic origin

K R Pratap  1 , Vikas Tandon  1 , Aditya Sunder Goparaju  1 , Aayush Aryal  1
Affiliations

A radiological parametric comparison of low-grade lytic spondylolisthesis to degenerative spondylolisthesis - A retrospective approach to establish its dysplastic origin

K R Pratap et al. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine. 2024 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to compare low-grade lytic spondylolisthesis (LS) and degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) radiologically. In addition, it seeks to identify underlying similarities between LS and DS.

Methods: This study included patients with low-grade single-level spondylolisthesis at L4-L5 or L5-S1. They were categorized into LS and DS. Radiological features, including pedicle height, width, transverse, and sagittal angle, as well as anterior vertebral heights (AVH) and posterior vertebral heights (PVH), were measured using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Results: The study involved 88 patients: 46 in the DS group and 42 in the LS group. In the LS group, the AVH was significantly higher than the posterior height at L4 and L5 (L4 PVH/AVH ratio 0.93 in LS vs. 0.96 in DS; L5 PVH/AVH ratio 0.84 in LS vs. 0.92 in DS), and pedicles were more medially oriented (L4: 19.62° in LS vs. 17.7° in DS; L5: 28.92° in LS vs. 26.47° in DS). In addition, at L5, the pedicle height (10.67 mm in LS vs. 11.48 mm in DS) and width (13.56 mm in LS vs. 14.37 mm in DS) were smaller compared to the DS group.

Conclusions: Low-grade LS shows distinct radiological vertebral and pedicle anatomy compared to DS. Short and thin pedicles and wedge-shaped vertebrae in LS resemble DS, indicating its dysplastic origin.

Keywords: Dysplasia; lumbar vertebra; pedicle; spondylolisthesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Anterior and posterior vertebral height at L4 and L5 vertebrae
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sagittal pedicle diameter and sagittal pedicle angle at L4 and L5 vertebrae
Figure 3
Figure 3
Transverse pedicle diameter and Transverse pedicle angle measured in L5 vertebra
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