Spondylolisthesis in Children Cause, Natural History, and Management

Spondylolysis is the term used for a defect in the pars interarticularis of the vertebra. The term is from the Greek roots spondylos, meaning vertebra, and lysis, meaning break or defect. Spondylolisthesis is from spon-dylos and listhesis, meaning movement or slipping, and refers to the slipping forward of one vertebra on the next caudal vertebra. Spondylolisthesis was first described in 1782 by Herbiniaux, a Belgian obstetrician.40 Spon-dylolysis is most common at L5, and therefore a slip is most common at this level, with L5 slipping forward on S1. Even though this discussion is about spondylolisthe-sis, some discussion of spondylolysis is necessary, be-cause this is the cause of the most common type of spon-dylolisthesis. Classificatio