Spondylolithesis in pilots: a follow-up study.
There were 21 pilots followed for 12-131 months in order to determine the natural history of spondylolithesis (SLL). Of these 21, 16 had follow-up X-ray examinations, and only 1 was found with significant progression of the posterior vertebral displacement. Of the 12 pilots with SLL and low back pain (LBP), 4 had recurrent single episodes of acute LBP, but all remained active and continued to fly over the follow-up period. None of the 9 pilots who had SLL discovered on routine X-ray examination developed LBP over the follow-up period. We conclude that pilots with SLL can continue to fly with minimal risk of morbidity and loss of flight time.
D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000453:epidemiology*