Spondylolisthesis Treatment Options
Spondylolisthesis is a slip of one vertebral body relative to an adjacent vertebral body due to the breakdown of cartilage between the vertebra. One of the most common symptoms of Spondylolisthesis is mild to moderate back pain. If the slip is compressing a nerve, leg pain often develops. Find out more on our page about Spondylolisthesis Causes & Symptoms page. Now, find below information regarding non-surgical and surgical options for Spondylolisthesis.
Spondylolisthesis Non-Operative Treatment
For Spondylolisthesis, medications, physical therapy, or spinal cortisone injections are indicated for pain relief. Surgery can be considered for those who do not improve. The two most recommended surgical options to treat Spondylolisthesis are:
Decompression
This procedure involves removing all or a portion of the lamina, removing bone spurs, and/or enlarging the foramen to relieve pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord. This pressure is often the source of pain.
Posterolateral Fusion
Usually, in addition to a decompression, your surgeon will also perform an instrumented posterolateral fusion by inserting a series of rods and screws coupled with the placement of bone graft. This fusion provides increased spinal stability. Depending on the severity of the slip and degree of misalignment, the slipped vertebral body is sometimes pulled back to its original position using special instrumentation.