Terminology used in spine disc pathology and back pain^[1]

Spondylosis: Arthritis of the spine. Seen radiographically as disc space narrowing and arthritic changes of the facet joint.

Anterolisthesis, spondylolisthesis, retrolisthesis:

Anterolisthesis is the anterior displacement of a vertebral body relative to the one below.

Spondylolisthesis is anterolisthesis secondary to spondylolysis but is also used to denote anterolisthesis from any cause.

Retrolisthesis is the posterior displacement of a vertebral body relative to the one below.

A radiologist determines the degree of slippage upon reviewing spinal radiographs. Slippage is graded I through IV:

Grade I - 1 to 25% slip

Grade II - 26 to 50% slip

Grade III - 51 to 75% slip

Grade IV - 76 to 100% slip

Generally, Grade I and Grade II slips do not require surgical treatment and are treated medically. However, Grade III and Grade IV slips, and some milder grade slips, may benefit from surgery if persistent and disabling symptoms are present.

Spondylolysis:A fracture in the pars interarticularis where the vertebral body and the posterior elements protecting the nerves are joined. In a small percent of the adult population, there is a developmental crack in one of the vertebrae, usually at L5.

Spinal stenosis: Local, segmental, or generalized narrowing of the vertebral canal by bone or soft tissue elements, usually bony hypertrophic changes in the facet joints and by thickening of the ligamentum flavum.

Radiculopathy: Impairment of a nerve root, usually causing radiating pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness that corresponds to a specific nerve root.

Sciatica: Pain, numbness, tingling in the distribution of the sciatic nerve, radiating down the posterior or lateral aspect of the leg, usually to the foot or ankle.

Cauda equina syndrome: Loss of bowel and bladder control and numbness in the groin and saddle area of the perineum, associated with weakness of the lower extremities. This condition can be caused by abnormal pressure on the bottom-most portion of the spinal canal and spinal nerve roots, related to either bony stenosis or a large herniated disc.

Lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis:

Kyphotic curves refer to the outward curve of the thoracic spine (at the level of the ribs).

Lordotic curves refer to the inward curve of the lumbar spine (just above the buttocks).

Scoliotic curving is a sideways curvature of the spine and is always abnormal.

A small degree of both kyphotic and lordotic curvature is normal. Too much kyphotic curving causes round shoulders or hunched shoulders (Scheuermann's disease).

Too much lordotic curving is called swayback (lordosis). Lordosis tends to make the buttocks appear more prominent.

Reference:

Fardon DF, Williams AL, Dohring EJ, et al. Lumbar disc nomenclature: version 2.0: Recommendations of the combined task forces of the North American Spine Society, the American Society of Spine Radiology and the American Society of Neuroradiology. Spine J 2014: 14:2525.

Graphic 78051 Version 9.0

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Terminology used in spine disc pathology and back pain[1]

Terminology used in spine disc pathology and back pain^[1]