Spondylolisthesis is the shift of one vertebra on another vertebra. It can often be the result of age-associated degenerative processes in adults. Sometimes it can be seen as a result of hereditary problems or trauma of the spine in young people. It is usually seen with low back pain. If the slip puts pressure on the nerves, leg pain may occur.
Pain and numbness in the low back and/or legs are expected. Weakness in the legs, cramps may be seen. Rarely, urinary and fecal incontinence occurs as a result of impaired urinary or defecation control. These findings usually increase after standing or walking for a long time. Findings may diminish sometimes, but they get worse over time. The weakness of the legs is accompanied by an increasingly short walking distance due to numbness and pain. These findings may remind us of the narrow canal disease. The reason for this is the narrowing of the canal as a result of slipping of the spine. Spondylolisthesis may not always give a severe finding, although some patients have severe slippage in their waist they do not complain.
In adults, degenerative changes due to aging, rheumatic changes, disc degenerations, problems of the spine joints, facet joint fractures due to trauma may be present. In young people, traumas due to athletic activities, hereditary problems, and problems in the isthmus of the facet joint of the spine may be present.
Possible treatment options
Medical treatment, drug use, physical therapy methods, corset use can be tried first. If these methods are not useful, surgical treatment may be considered. The aim of surgical treatment is to detect and support the slipped part of the spine with instruments. While doing this, the stuck and narrowed spinal cord canal can also be opened and nerve structures are relaxed.