CONDITIONS EXPLAINEDSpondylolysis
CONDITIONS EXPLAINEDSpondylolysis
Spondylolysis is another name for a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis. It is a fracture of the pars articularis, a bony point of contact between two adjacent vertebrae. Vertebrae make primary contact through the intervertebral discs that act as shock absorbers on the spine. The facet joints of which the pars articularis is part protect the spine from the shearing forces to which the discs are susceptible. When the pars articularis is damaged from excessive or repetitive stress, it may fracture and result in a loss of support for superior vertebrae. This commonly manifests with spondylolisthesis, in which the upper vertebra slips horizontally over the supporting one.
Spondylolysis occurs most commonly in the lumbar region, and especially in athletes who experience regular stresses on the vertebral column, such as gymnasts. In less severe cases, only a crack in the pars will occur, causing pain which may radiate to the extremities, but not yet leading to degeneration of spinal structure. Other common symptoms include numbness or tingling in the back, muscle spasms, and headache. Usually, medication and rest are all that are required for recovery from a pars fracture.
Experiencing Symptoms of Spondylolysis?
Detection & Diagnosis
Adult spinal deformity is a complex condition that usually involves multiple points of failure over an extended period of time. As such, diagnosis may require multiple modes of imaging to provide a complete picture of the problem and its course of development. Many pathologies may be involved in the development of spinal deformities, making the diagnostic process much more involved than in other conditions of the spine. Imaging modalities may include:
OUTCOMESRelated
Treatments & Procedures
The goals of treatment in spinal deformity are a reduction of pain and restoration of function. The exact modalities will vary depending on the specific nature of a deformity. A combination of approaches may be necessary to achieve satisfactory results. These may include the use of specialized instrumentation, fusion procedures, as well as the adjustment or removal of spinal structures. Perhaps the most important prognostic factor for surgical success and patient recovery relates to the patient frailty index, which evaluates a patient’s physiological tolerance for the stresses of surgery. Even so, advances in technology and the developments of newer strategies is consistently improving outcomes as a whole.
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