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Symptoms of spondylolisthesis
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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With spondylolisthesis, patients complain of pain in the lumbosacral spine, often radiating to one of the lower extremities. There is a violation of posture or scoliotic deformation of the lumbar spine, weakness and hypotrophy in the lower extremities.
Upon examination, a shortening of the torso is revealed. It seems that the torso is "pushed" into the pelvis. G.I. Turner called such a torso "telescopic". The sacrum is vertical and stands out in relief under the skin. The lumbar lordosis is increased and has an arched shape due to the forward displacement of the spine. Due to the shortening of the torso, folds are formed above the iliac crests and the distance between the wings of the iliac bones and the lower ribs decreases.
Palpation reveals a depression above the spinous process of the displaced vertebra - the "step" symptom, and pressure on the spinous processes of the displaced and underlying vertebra causes pain. With pronounced lumbosacral kyphosis and a sharp shift of the center of gravity of the body forward, patients are forced to bend their legs at the knee and hip joints while walking - "tightrope walker's gait". Limited mobility is detected in the lumbosacral spine.
Neurological examination reveals pain (radicular) syndrome or paresis caused by compression of the spinal cord roots by a herniated intervertebral disc, pathological bone growths in the area of the defect of the interarticular part of the arch, or excessive tension of the roots. With stage IV spondylolisthesis and ptosis, dysfunction of the pelvic organs is possible.
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