Lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis

Abstract

Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis (LDS) is a common condition affecting the lumbar spine characterized by chronic arthritis and bony remodeling of the facet joints. Epidemiologic studies have revealed that LDS is a relatively common condition among older patients, and may be asymptomatic in many affected individuals. While conservative treatment measures are often utilized initially, the mainstay of management for persistently symptomatic LDS is surgical decompression. Despite a number of recent well-designed randomized clinical trials, there remains no consensus regarding the optimal method of surgical treatment, including whether or not lumbar spinal fusion provides added clinical benefit beyond decompression alone. This chapter reviews the epidemiology and clinical presentation of LDS, as well as the existing evidence for the range of surgical treatments that have been utilized in patients suffering from this condition.