Spondylolisthesis is the sliding 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 younger people. It is usually accompanied by lower back pain. If the shift puts pressure on the nerves, leg pain may occur.
Pain and numbness in the lower 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 fecal control. These findings usually get worse after standing or walking for a long time. Findings may improve at times, but overall, they will 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 seem similar to narrow canal disease. The reason is the narrowing of the canal as a result of the sliding of the spine. Spondylolisthesis may not always show severe symptoms, although some patients may have severe sliding and slippage in their lower back, they may not have any complaints.
In adults, degenerative changes due to aging, rheumatic changes, disc degenerations, problems in the spine joints, facet joint fractures due to trauma may be present. In younger people, traumas due to athletic activities, hereditary problems, and problems in the isthmus section of the facet joint of the spine may be present.
Medical treatment, use of medication, physical therapy methods, corset use can be tried first. If these methods do not prove useful, surgical treatment may be considered.
The purpose of surgical treatment is to detect and support the part of the spine that sliding or slipped out with instruments. In doing this, the compressed and narrowed spinal cord canal is also opened and the nerve structures are relaxed.
