Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a bone (vertebra) in the spine slips forward or backward in relation to the bone below it. It occurs most frequently in the lower back but can affect any vertebra. Low back pain, leg pain and weakness in the legs can result if the bone that is out of position significantly narrows the spinal column and begins to press on nerves.
Causes of spondylolisthesis include:
Rest and anti-inflammatory medication resolve most cases, but occasionally physical therapy or surgery may be required.
Like many other conditions, spondylolisthesis can be measured using a grading system, where your spondylolisthesis grade is based on the degree of displacement of your vertebrae. Grades of spondylolisthesis influence what symptoms you might experience as well as what treatment you will likely receive.
The grade of your condition is based on the distance from the posterior edge of the superior body of the vertebrae to the same edge of the inferior vertebral body. The ratings range from spondylolisthesis grade 1 to spondylolisthesis grade 5: grade 1 spondylolisthesis being least severe and grade 5 most severe.
To diagnose your spondylolisthesis grade, your provider may order:
Multidisciplinary Team: When you come to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Comprehensive Spine Center, we determine the source of your pain, accurately diagnose the severity of your condition and choose which least-invasive treatment approach will restore you to the highest level of function possible.
Among the experts at our Comprehensive Spine Center are:
Comprehensive Care: Ohio State offers all available treatment options for spondylolisthesis and provides realistic expectations for the treatment you choose. We consider your lifestyle and short- and long-term goals as we design a treatment plan uniquely for you.
Physical Therapy Expertise: Our physical therapists specialize in spine conditions and work with you to alleviate pain and improve strength and flexibility.
Surgical Expertise: Our surgeons are fellowship-trained in complex spine surgeries. We perform more complex spine surgeries than any other medical center in central Ohio.
Research: You will benefit from Ohio State’s connections to national and international studies that provide you with the most current treatment methods and techniques in spondylolisthesis treatment.
Spine Center Registry: Through Ohio State’s Comprehensive Spine Center registry, we track our patients’ outcomes, including physical function and quality of life, and compare these to national and international results to help us select the most effective treatment methods.
Following a thorough history, physical and neurological exams, our spine surgeons may recommend any of the following tests to confirm whether a bone in your spine is abnormally aligned. All tests are available within the Comprehensive Spine Center:
Ohio State performs innovative research in the laboratory, as well as through clinical trials.
Areas of focus include:
Spinal Fusion Study: A clinical trial currently under way at Ohio State is testing whether vertebrae being fused during minimally invasive surgery can be held together with screws on one side instead of on both sides of the bone. Placing screws on only one side of the bone results in shorter surgery time, less blood loss and less pain following surgery.
Biomechanical Testing: We also are doing biomechanical testing to assess the spine before and after surgery. A specialized vest helps us measure the effectiveness of surgery. It ultimately may provide valuable information about which treatment methods will best increase mobility and function of the spine.
Please obtain a physician referral before scheduling with our Spine Center and request previous imaging studies (e.g., MRI, CT, X-ray) on a CD from the place where your tests were performed. Please bring to your appointment these and other test results related to your back (e.g., EMGs, bone density reports, ultrasound reports) from your doctor(s).
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