Spondylolisthesis in pre-school children.
Although the natural history of spondylolisthesis is poorly described, we know that it is rare to see the condition in children before they are 5 or 6 years old. Treatment in these patients may be confusing because there is very little literature on the subject, and most papers are case reports. We present a series of eight pre-school patients (mean age 3.5 years; range 9 months to 5 years) with spondylolisthesis with an average follow up of 11.5 years (range 9-14 years). In our experience, general guidelines for treatment as given by Wiltse and Jackson are useful in patients younger than 5 years. Nowadays we have to keep strict control of these patients due to their important capacity for growth that increases the possibility of further slippage.
Beguiristáin
José Luis
JL
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Clinic of Navarre, School of Medicine, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain. jbeguirist@unav.es
Díaz-de-Rada
Pablo
P
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*