Patients can present at any age. The chief complaint is lower back pain (mechanical back pain) following activity which typically resolves with rest.

Children may present with short stride gait secondary to nerve root irritability.

Associated symptoms include:

L5 radiculopathy
Cauda equina (only severe cases)
Hamstring tightness/cramps

This patient presented with a type 6 spondylolisthesis. In the AP view one can see an accentuated abdominal crease. The sagittal imbalance is easily seen in the clinical lateral view.

Children and young adults involved in sports such as gymnastics, weight lifting, overhead sports such as volley ball and tennis, are at high risk of developing spondylolisthesis.

Authors of section

Author

General Editor

All further reading