Osteoporotic spondylolisthesis: a case report.
METHODS
A case of spondylolisthesis caused by osteoporosis is described.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the different etiologies of spondylolisthesis, and to report a new cause of pathologic spondylolisthesis previously unreported in the literature.


BACKGROUND
The literature on the etiology of spondylolisthesis is reviewed. Pathologic spondylolisthesis has been described with structural abnormalities, such as Paget's disease and tumors, but not with osteoporosis.


METHODS
A clinical and radiographic interpretation of the reported case is presented.


RESULTS
De Novo development of a spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 occurred by gradual elongation of the pars interarticularis over a period of 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The reported case adds to the literature on spondylolisthesis by describing another etiology for this conclusion. Osteoporotic spondylolisthesis may well be identified more frequently in the future given the high prevalence of osteoporosis in the elderly.
Tabrizi
P
P
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Bouchard
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed