Unstable degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine

Abstract

Unstable degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine is very rare. Slip usually occurs at the C3 on C4 or C4 on C5 levels, immediately above a stiff lower cervical spine. There are two clinical patterns: that with neurological involvement causing cervicobrachial pain or myelopathy and that with neck pain alone. The diagnosis can be made by flexion/extension radiography. All of our eight patients had localised fusion, three anterior and five posterior, and all had satisfactory results one to seven years after operation.