Spondylolysis

Question 1

What are some of the causes of spondylolysis?

Answer 1

• congenital
• acquired during development
• the result of aging
• the result of trauma

Question 2

What are some locations of spondylolysis?

Answer 2

• between the right and left sides of the vertebral body
• between the vertebral body and pedicle
• between the parts of the pars interarticularis
• between the right and left lamina

Question 3

What is the location of spondylolysis that will be stressed in Spinal?

Answer 3

a separation along the pars interarticularis (defect in the pars interarticularis or pars defect)

Question 4

What parts of a vertebra are separated as a result of a pars defect?

Answer 4

the anterior element from the posterior element

Question 5

What specific parts of a vertebra are separated as a result of a pars defect?

Answer 5

vertebral body, pedicle, and articular process (anterior elements) are separated from the other articular process, lamina, and spinous process (posterior elements)

Question 6

What is the incidence of spondylolysis in the general population?

Answer 6

a range of 2.6% to 10%

Question 7

What is the incidence of spondylolysis in the native Alaskan population?

Answer 7

52.6%

Question 8

Lumbar spondylolysis has not been reported in what groups of individuals?

Answer 8

• fetuses
• newborns
• rarely in children under 5 years old
• patients who have never walked
• in non-erect species

Question 9

Lumbar spondylolysis has only been reported in what type of species?

Answer 9

those species that walk erect; humans

Question 10

Lumbar spondylolysis is associated with what characteristics?

Answer 10

• familial association
• spina bifida occulta
• racial/ethnic disparities
• gender and locational bias
• youthful incidence
• activities requiring repetitive stress on the spine

Question 11

What is the gender bias and locational bias associated with lumbar spondylolysis?

Answer 11

• men at L5/S1

- women at L4/L5

Question 12

What is the age range typically associated with lumbar spondylolysis?

Answer 12

10-20 years old

Question 13

What activities are particularly stressful at the pars interarticularis of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 13

• gymnastics
• dance
• soccer

Question 14

What motions are particularly associated with lumbar spondylolysis?

Answer 14

hyperextension coupled with rotation

Question 15

What fills the space in a lumbar spondylolysis?

Answer 15

fibrocartilagenous material

Question 16

What name has been given to the material filling the space in a lumbar spondylolysis?

Answer 16

spondylolysis lig.

Question 17

What types of neural functions have been associated with the spondylolysis lig.?

Answer 17

• nociception
• neuromodulation
• autonomic function

Question 18

What is the appearance of the lumbar vertebra upon oblique x-ray view?

Answer 18

a Scotty dog

Question 19

What is the appearance of a pars defect in a lumbar vertebra upon oblique x-ray view?

Answer 19

a collared Scotty dog

Question 20

What part of a lumbar vertebra forms the neck of a Scotty dog?

Answer 20

the pars interarticularis below the superior articular process

Question 21

What part of a lumbar vertebra forms the eye of a Scotty dog?

Answer 21

the pedicle

Question 22

What part of a lumbar vertebra forms the ear of a Scotty dog?

Answer 22

the superior articular process

Question 23

What part of a lumbar vertebra forms the nose of a Scotty dog?

Answer 23

the transverse process

Question 24

What characteristics are associated with cervical spondylolysis?

Answer 24

• rare
• congenital
• gender biased toward men
• most common at C6
• linked to spondylolisthesis and spina bifida

Question 25

What characteristics are associated with sacral spondylolysis?

Answer 25

• rare in the general population
• within typical percents in the native Alaskan (Inuit) population
• seems to be acquired
• gender biased toward men
• most common at S1
• linked to activities such as kayaking and harpooning