KIDS - SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
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What is Pediatric Spondylolisthesis?
This is a term to describe the slip of one vertebre in the spine over the adjacent segment. There are two major types: one is a fracture through the pars (which connects the posterior element to the articulating facets), and the other occurs without a fracture. A guy name Wiltse came up with a classification system for these fractures. Type I are congenital (patient is born with the deformity: most commonly L5-S1 due to an absent inferior facet assoc. w. spina bifida). Type II is acquired (usually in kids as a result of a stress fracture, which is a type of overuse injury seen in gymnists, and offensive linemen in football, who are hyper-extending their backs, leaning backward). The acquired. The symptoms can occur as the posterior neural arch of the spine impinges onto the dura leading to leg pain, hamstring spasms, and gait disturbances. The acquired type occurs with the pars stress fracture, called spondylolysis (most commonly at L5, but also L4).
How is Pediatric Spondylolisthesis diagnosed?
pending
How is Pediatric Spondylolisthesis treated?
pending
What is the long term outcome?
The patients do great.