Diagnosing And Treating Cervical Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition that occurs when one vertebra slips forwards onto the vertebra below it, causing pain and discomfort. When this vertebral slippage occurs in the neck region, it is classified as cervical spondylolisthesis, and it’s an issue that Dr. Jackman sees pretty regularly. In today’s blog, we explain why cervical spondylolisthesis can develop, how the issue is diagnosed and the best strategies for treating it effectively.

Causes And Symptoms Of Cervical Spondylolisthesis

We know that the mechanism behind the condition involves one vertebra slipping forward onto the vertebra beneath it, but why can this vertebral slippage occur? There are a few different types of spondylolisthesis, and they all have different underlying causes:

Degenerative spondylolisthesis develops due to natural aging and spinal disc degeneration, making it easier for vertebrae to become more mobile.
Congenital spondylolisthesis involves an irregular arrangement of vertebrae that is present at birth, which increases your likelihood of vertebral movement.
Isthmic spondylolisthesis sets in when small stress fractures in the vertebrae weaken the stability of the bone and increase its chances of slipping out of place.
Traumatic spondylolisthesis occurs when forceful trauma to the neck or back causes a vertebra to slip out of its normal location.
Pathological spondylolisthesis leads to disc slippage because of an underlying condition like a tumor or infection that compromises the stability of the spinal column.

Symptoms of the condition can vary from patient to patient, but when the problem develops in the neck region, many patients report issues like pain, discomfort that radiates down the arm, headaches, numbness and difficulty balancing or walking.

Diagnosing And Treating Cervical Spondylolisthesis

If you’re dealing with any of the above symptoms, connect with a spine and neck specialist. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and conduct a physical exam of the area. Because there are a number of different issues that present with similar symptoms in the head and neck, your doctor will likely work to confirm the diagnosis with the help of an imaging test. X-rays can provide a clear image of the vertebral slippage, but other tests like an MRI or CT scan may be considered as well.

Treatment will be dictated by a number of different individual factors, but many patients can find some or complete symptom relief with the help of conservative care. The most common non-operative treatments involve a combination of rest, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, gentle stretching techniques, weight loss and corticosteroid injections.

If weeks of conservative efforts fail to provide adequate relief, your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive procedure. Depending on your needs and wishes, your doctor may recommend one of the following procedures:

Your surgeon can walk you through the specifics of those procedures, or you can learn more about each by following the links. Most patients experience fantastic results with these procedures, but oftentimes conservative care provides enough relief that surgery is not necessary.

If you have been bothered by neck or back pain and are interested in getting to the bottom of your discomfort and developing a treatment plan, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.