Radiographic predisposing factors for degenerative spondylolisthesis.
This study was a retrospective radiographic study involving analysis of computed tomography scans obtained for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis of the L4-L5 segment and a control group. The purpose of the study was to identify radiological predisposing factors for degenerative spondylolisthesis of the L4-L5 segment. The authors reviewed all computed tomography scans (N=3370) performed at their institution between January 2005 and December 2008. Eighty-four patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis were identified and compared with a control group regarding facet joint orientation, the presence of sacralization of the L5 vertebra, the presence of major degenerative changes in the L5-S1 disk space, and the location of the intercrestal line. There was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding facet joint orientation, with more sagittal facet joints in the degenerative spondylolisthesis group (56° and 54° in the right and left facets, respectively, in the study group, and 46° and 42° in the right and left facets, respectively, in the control group) (P<.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the presence of sacralization of the L5 vertebra, the presence of major degenerative changes in the L5-S1 disk space, and the location of the intercrestal line relative to the lumbar spine. There is an association between sagittal orientation of the facet joints at the L4-L5 segment and degenerative spondylolisthesis at the same level.
Yossi
Y
Smorgick
Yigal
Y
Mirovsky
Jeffrey S
JS
Fischgrund
Kevin C
KC
Baker
Yael
Y
Gelfer
Yoram
Y
Anekstein
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*