Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Association of incipient disc degeneration and instability in spondylolisthesis

A magnetic resonance and flexion-extension radiographic study of 20-year-old low back pain patients

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The concurrence of early disc degeneration and abnormal segmental motion in spondylolysis of young low back pain patients (n = 14) was investigated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and flexion-extension radiography. Seven patients with L5 spondylolisthesis had normal discs on MRI and 7 had disc degeneration below the slipped vertebra. The parallel motion, angular mobility and centre of motion were similar in the degenerated discs and in normal discs. The present study shows that in adolescents the motion pattern and hydration of discs associated with spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are not always abnormal. The early dehydration and degeneration of lumbar discs observed on MRI are not always associated with abnormal mobility of the corresponding motion segment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Begg AC, Falconer MA (1949) Plain radiography in intraspinal protrusion of lumbar intervertebral discs: a correlation with operative findings Br J Surg 36:225–239

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dupuis PR, Yong-Hing K, Cassidy JD, Kirkaldy-Willis WH (1985) Radiologic diagnosis of degenerative lumbar spinal instability. Spine 10:262–276

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Farfan HF (1980) The pathological anatomy of degenerative spondylolisthesis. A cadaver study. Spine 5:412–418

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Friberg O (1987) Lumbar instability: a dynamic approach by traction-compression radiography. Spine 12:119–129

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gertzbein SD, Seligman J, Holtby R, Chan KH, Kapasouri A, Tile M, Cruickshank B (1985) Centrode patterns and segmental instability in degenerative disc disease. Spine 10:257–261

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gibson MJ, Buckley JH, Worthington BS, Mulholland RC (1987) Magnetic resonance imaging of adolescent disc herniation. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 69:699–703

    Google Scholar 

  7. Henson J, McCall IW, O'Brien JP (1987) Disc damage above a spondylolisthesis. Br J Radiol 60:69–72

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. nutsson F (1944) The instability associated with disk degeneration in the lumbar spine. Acta Radiol 25:593–609

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lowe RW, Hayes TD, Kaye J, Bagg RJ, Luekens CA (1976) Standing roentgenograms in spondylolisthesis. Clin Orthop 117:80–84

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Meyerding HW (1932) Spondylolisthesis. Surg Gynecol Obster 54:371–377

    Google Scholar 

  11. Modic MT, Masaryk TJ, Ross JS, Carter JR (1988) Imaging of degenerative disk disease. Radiology 168:177–186

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Morgan FP, King T (1957) Primary instability of lumbar vertebrae as a common cause of low back pain. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 39:6–22

    Google Scholar 

  13. Paajanen H, Erkintalo M, Dahlstrom S, Kuusela T, Svedström E, Kormano M (1989) Disc degeneration and lumbar instability. Magnetic resonance examination of 16 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 60:375–378

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Paajanen H, Erkintalo M, Kuusela T, Dahlstrom S, Kormano M (1989) Magnetic resonance study of disc degeneration in young low-back pain patients. Spine 14:982–985

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pearcy M, Shepherd J (1985) Is there instability in spondylolisthesis? Spine 10:175–177

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Pearcy M, Portek I, Shepherd J (1984) Three dimensional X-ray analysis of normal movement of lumbar spine. Spine 9:294–297

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Penning L, Blickman JR (1980) Instability in lumbar spondylolisthesis: a radiologic study of several concepts. AIR 134:293–301

    Google Scholar 

  18. Penning L, Wilmink JT, Woerden HH van (1984) Inability to prove instability. A critical appraisal of clinical-radiological flexion-extension studies in lumbar disc degeneration. Diagn Imag Clin Med 53:186–192

    Google Scholar 

  19. Powell MC, Wilson M, Szypryt P et al (1986) Prevalence of lumbar disc degeneration observed by magnetic resonance in symptomless women. Lancet 11:1366–1367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Saraste H, Brostrom L-A, Aparisi T, Axdorph G (1985) Radiographic measurement of the lumbar spine. A clinical and experimental study in man. Spine 10:236–241

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Seitsalo S (1990) Operative and conservative treatment of moderate spondylolisthesis in young patients. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 72:908–913

    Google Scholar 

  22. Seligman JV, Gertzbein SD, Tile M, Kapasouri A (1984) Computer analysis of spinal segment motion in degenerative disc disease with and without axial loading. Spine 9:566–573

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Szypryt EP, Twining P, Mulholland RC, Worthington BS (1989) The prevalence of disc degeneration associated with neural arch defects of the lumbar spine assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Spine 14:977–981

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wiltse LL (1971) The effect of the common anomalies of the lumbar spine upon disc degeneration and low back pain. Orthop Clin North Am 2:569–582

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wiltse LL, Newman PH, MacNab I (1976) Classification of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Clin Orthop 117:23–29

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Yong-Hing K, Kirkaldy-Willis WH (1983) The pathophysiology of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Orthop Clin North Am 14:491–504

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Central Hospital of Mikkeli, Finland

    H. Paajanen

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Turku, Finland

    M. Tertti

Authors
  1. H. Paajanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Tertti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paajanen, H., Tertti, M. Association of incipient disc degeneration and instability in spondylolisthesis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 111, 16–19 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390186

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390186

Keywords

Search

Navigation