treatment
Last reviewed 01/2018
The treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis can be divided into conservative and surgical measures:
- conservative treatment - bed rest during the acute attack and a supporting corset between attacks. This is indicated if the patient is no longer young and the symptoms are not disabling, or, if there is doubt whether the spondylisthesis or an associated disc prolapse is the cause of the symptoms.
- operative treatment - spinal fusion is undertaken to fix the unstable segment. Indications include disabling symptoms, moderate symptoms in a young adult and marked neurological compression.