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What causes spondylolisthesis?
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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The development and progression of spondylolisthesis is due to the following factors:
- sagittal vertebral-pelvic imbalance;
- dysplasia of the lumbosacral spine (spina bifida, hypoplasia of the articular processes, hypoplasia of the transverse processes, hypoplasia of the arches of the vertebrae), high standing of the L5 vertebra with respect to the bispinal line;
- trapezoidal deformation of the body of the displaced vertebra and dome-shaped deformation of the upper surface of the body of the underlying vertebra;
- instability of the lumbosacral segment;
- the appearance and progression of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc at the level of displacement.
The classification of Meyerding spondylolisthesis is based on the degree of displacement of the vertebral body with respect to the surface of the body of the underlying vertebra, which is established on the basis of the roentgenograms of the spine in the lateral projection:
- I degree - the posterior edge of the displaced vertebra corresponds to the surface of the body of the underlying vertebra;
- II degree - 2/4;
- III degree - 3/4;
- IV degree - on the whole surface of the body of the underlying vertebra;
- spondyloptosis - the posterior edge of the body of the displaced vertebra lies outside the surface of the body of the underlying vertebra.