Introduction
Research Review
Welcome from Dwight Tyndall, MD, FAAOS
Lumbar spondylolisthesis, a forward slippage of one vertebral body over the one beneath, is a common spinal condition that affects children and adults. Often accompanying a spondylolisthesis is spondylolysis—a defect in the pars interarticularis. Although a L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is most common, it can occur in the levels above.
Proper diagnosis and treatment decision-making requires understanding the amount of listhesis, which may involve use of the Meyerding Classification system (Fig. 1), as well as other factors such as the patient’s age, level of symptoms, pars defect or not, including other lumbar pathology.
Figure 1
This issue of SpineScan focuses of various aspects of lumbar spondylolisthesis, including spondylolytic, dysplastic, degenerative, and isthmic. The journal articles featured in this issue examine the following points.
Key Considerations