J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2005 Dec;12(4):338-343.

Radiological and Clinical Analysis of Degenerative Lumbar Retrolisthesis: Comparative Study of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

• Kim WJ
• Kang JW
• Park JG
• Park KY
• Sung HI
• Choy WS

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVES
We wanted to analyze the radiological features of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis and retrolisthesis, and we wanted to verify what radiological factors are related to the development of the retrolisthesis. We also wanted to determine these radiological factors' clinical significance. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: There is little information about the pathological mechanism and the clinical and radiological aspects of degenerative lumbar retrolisthsis. MATERIALS & METHODS: Sixty patients were reviewed and divided into three groups. The degenerative lumbar retrolisthesis patients were in group A. The degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis patients were in group B. Group C patients had no vertebral shift in any direction. The factors we measured were the facet joint angle, the disc height of L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1, and the lordosis of the lumbar spine. The evaluation of the clinical results was then quantified.
RESULTS
The facet joint angle showed no statistical significance between the two groups. The disc height of group A at L4-5 and L5-S1 was more decreased in group A than in group B (p<0.05). Lumbar lordosis was decreased significantly in group A (p<0.05). The preoperative pain was improved at the final follow up, but preoperative pain was significantly higher in group A than in group B (p<0.05). The clinical results were improved in each group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The disc height and lumbar lordosis were considerably reduced in the patients with retrolisthesis, especially compared to those patients with spondylolisthesis. Preoperative pain was higher for the retrolisthesis patients than for the spondylolithesis patients, but there was no significant difference.

Keyword

Degenerative lumbar retrolisthesis; Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis; Disc height; Lumbar lordosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lordosis
Retrospective Studies
Spine
Spondylolisthesis*
Zygapophyseal Joint

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Measurement of facet joint angulation in the transverse plane. A line parallel to the posterior vertebral body wall serves as reference.

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  Fig. 2. Measurement of disc height as Farfan index. The sum of anterior disc height A and posterior height B is divided by sagittal disc width D.

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  Fig. 3. Measurement of lumbar lordosis.

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