Abstract
Before radiography was invented, spondylolisthesis was commonly mistaken for other spinal diseases prevalent at that time, especially deformity due to tuberculous infection. With the introduction of routine roentgenographic evaluation of the spine, the diagnosis was made with greater accuracy, but there was little agreement regarding the etiology and treatment of spondylolisthesis. The history of that debate reveals much about the evolution of the scientific method in orthopaedics and provides insights into the major advances in the surgical approach to spinal disease. Debate continues regarding the best surgical approach to treating these patients, especially with regard to the risks, benefits, advisability, and need to correct the deformity of the spine.
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Lu, Y., Le, V.H., Lebwohl, N.H. (2023). Spondylolisthesis: A Historical Perspective on Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. In: Wollowick, A.L., Sarwahi, V. (eds) Spondylolisthesis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27253-0_1
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