Brace treatment for symptomatic spondylolisthesis.
The literature documents progression of spondylolisthesis, most commonly during the adolescent growth spurt. Twenty-eight patients with Grades I and II spondylolisthesis were treated with antilordotic braces. Presenting signs and symptoms included back pain (61%), tight hamstrings (53%), increased lordosis (25%), and mild scoliosis (21%). Three patients presented with spondylolysis and progressed to a slip prior to initiation of brace treatment. Mean duration of brace treatment was 25 months. In the brace, lateral roentgenograms demonstrated a significant reduction of lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination. At the conclusion of brace treatment all patients were pain-free and none had demonstrated a significant increase in slip percent.
Bell
D F
DF
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Ehrlich
M G
MG
Zaleske
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*