J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2018 Dec;25(4):154-159. 10.4184/jkss.2018.25.4.154.

Concurrent Degenerative Cervical and Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

• Park MS
• Hwang JH
• Kim TH
• Oh JK
• Chang HG
• Kim HJ
• Park KT
• Lim JK
• Riew KD

• KMID: 2430140
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2018.25.4.154

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective radiographic study.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the characteristics of concurrent degenerative cervical and lumbar spondylolisthesis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Concurrent degenerative cervical and lumbar spondylotic diseases have been reported. Given that severe spondylosis can result in spondylolisthesis, one might expect that concurrent spondylolisthesis of the cervical and lumbar spines might also be prevalent. However, the incidence of spondylolistheses in the lumbar and cervical spines might differ due to anatomical differences between the 2 areas. Nonetheless, there is minimal information in the literature concerning the incidence of concurrent cervical and lumbar spondylolisthesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated standing cervical and lumbar lateral radiographs of 2510 patients with spondylosis. Concurrence, age group, gender, and direction of spondylolisthesis were evaluated. Lumbar spondylolisthesis was defined as at least Meyerding grade I and degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis was defined as over 2 mm of displacement on standing lateral radiographs.
RESULTS
Lumbar spondylolisthesis was found in 125 patients (5.0%) and cervical spondylolisthesis was found in 193 patients (7.7%). Seventeen patients had both degenerative cervical and lumbar spondylolistheses (0.7%). Lumbar spondylolisthesis is a risk factor for co-existing cervical spondylolisthesis. Lumbar spondylolisthesis was more common in females than males, independent of advancing age. In contrast, degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis was more common in older patients, independent of gender. Anterolisthesis was more common in the lumbar spine. Retrolisthesis was more common in the cervical spine.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a higher prevalence of degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Keyword

Cervical vertebrae; Lumbar vertebrae; Concurrent degenerative spondylolisthesis

MeSH Terms

Cervical Vertebrae
Female
Humans
Incidence
Lumbar Vertebrae
Male
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Spine
Spondylolisthesis*
Spondylosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Meyerding grading method showing grade II spondylolisthesis of L4.

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