What Is Degenerative Spondylolisthesis?

Degenerative spondylolisthesis refers to the movement of adjacent vertebrae in relation to each other. It is the most common type of Spondylolisthesis, and is mainly caused due to aging, and the loss of water content in the discs and reduction in disc height.

Spondylolisthesis occurs when the vertebra on one side of the disc comes close to the vertebra on the other side due to the loss of disc height. In this case, the upper vertebra generally slides forward on to the sub adjacent vertebra, which then causes spondylolisthesis. L4-L5, followed by L3-L4 and L5-S1 are the areas most prone to degenerative spondylolisthesis due to the degeneration of disc caused by high stress and motion.

It is also caused due to the deterioration of the facet joints that connect the two vertebrae. Due to deterioration, the facet joints become arthritic. Then the facet joints enlarge to maintain stability. The canal narrows in size with the two rings of the vertebral segments making up the spinal canal sliding past each other.

The nerve compression caused in degenerative spondylolisthesis is produced by a combination of narrowed canal and enlarged facet joints. The nerves are mainly compressed in two major points. It is also believed that a narrowed spinal canal reduces the nerve blood flow.

There are two kinds of degenerative spondylolisthesis: unilateral spondylolisthesis, and bilateral spondylolisthesis. Unilateral spondylolisthesis is caused due to unilateral defects whereas the bilateral Spondylolisthesis is a result of bilateral defects.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis is known to cause serious weakness and other problems that might need an emergency surgery. It also causes degenerative back pain which is experienced by most of the patients suffering from degenerative spondylolithesis.

In some cases of slipping of the vertebra caused by degenerative spondylolisthesis, physical therapy may help in getting relief from a back pain, but in the cases of spinal stenosis, the nerve compression is not known to be affected by physical therapy. The patients who don't get any relief from physical treatments are then advised to undergo a surgery.

There is a drug therapy that is also used to treat degenerative spondylolisthesis. The drug therapy uses varied drugs such as narcotics, antiinflammatory agents, acetaminophen, antidepressants and muscle relaxants.

Generally, epidural steroid injections provide relief to the patients by alleviating the inflammation of the nerve roots. The relief is known to last for weeks and months. Still, these drugs are given for a limited time because it may lead to abuse if used for a long time.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis can be a problem if not taken seriously. Therefore, it is important to understand all the problems and medications related to this condition of the spine.

Degenerative Spine