Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Diagnosing and Treating Anterolisthesis

If you recently suffered a trauma to your spine, connect with a spine specialist. They will begin by asking about your symptoms, reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam. Your doctor may have a pretty good idea that you’re dealing with vertebral slippage after this physical exam, but they may opt to confirm their diagnosis and get a better visual of the slippage with the help of an imaging test. X-rays, CT scans and MRIs are all techniques that may be used based on your situation.

During the imaging test, your doctor will work to establish the extent of the slippage, as this can help to guide treatment. Grade 1 anterolisthesis occurs when the vertebra slips less than 25 percent in front of the vertebra below it. Grade 2 involves between 26 to 50 percent slippage, Grade 3 involves 51 to 75 percent slippage, and Grade 4 involves 76 percent or more slippage.

This slippage grade will help to guide treatment. In many cases, patients with Grade 1 or Grade 2 slippage may be able to help their injury heal with the help of conservative means, while Grade 3 and Grade 4 cases are more significant and may require surgery. If conservative care is your recommended route, you can expect a healthy dose of rest followed by low-impact exercise, pain medications and physical therapy. After a number of weeks, the spine may slowly realign itself.

Surgery is considered a last resort in severe cases or when conservative techniques fail to provide expected results. Oftentimes surgery involves realigning the spine with artificial hardware to help hold the vertebral section in the correct position. The area may also be decompressed before the vertebral segments are fused together to ensure correct alignment.

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