Spinal conditions: spondylolisthesis, scoliosis and leg length
The spondylo- words
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Spondylosis | Degenerative change of the spine |
| Spondylolysis | A defect or stress fracture of the pars interarticularis, often from repeated extension in athletes |
| Spondylolisthesis | One vertebra slipped relative to the one below; forward is anterolisthesis, backward is retrolisthesis |
Isthmic spondylolisthesis comes from a pars defect. Degenerative spondylolisthesis can happen with the pars intact.
Meyerding grades
| Grade | Slip |
|---|---|
| I | Up to 25% |
| II | 26 to 50% |
| III | 51 to 75% |
| IV | 76 to 100% |
| V | More than 100% (spondyloptosis) |
The Scotty dog
On an oblique lumbar film, the posterior elements look like a dog: the nose is the transverse process, the eye the pedicle, the neck the pars interarticularis, the ear the superior articular process and the front leg the inferior articular process. A pars defect looks like a collar on the dog's neck. The mnemonic does not mean oblique films are the right first study.
The rest of this guide is for founders
Founders get every guide, endless cases with an AI tutor, and Anki export of their misses. Here is what is inside:
- The spondylo- words
- Other terms that show up
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Scoliosis
- Leg length difference and heel lifts
- The persistent low back pain checklist
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