Comparison of the sacral table angles by progression stage of lumbar spondylolysis

Retrospective study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate sacral table angle (STA) values in early-stage spondylolysis. Several studies suggested that the STA of patients with L5 spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis was significantly lower than that of healthy controls. Separation of the pars interarticularis creates shear stress between the upper sacral end plate and L5 vertebra. This was considered the cause of low STA in patients with spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis. However, if a low STA value is obtained in the early stage of L5 spondylolysis, it suggests that low STA does not result in the remodeling of the sacral end plate.

Patients with L5 spondylolysis and those with low back pain without pars defect were retrospectively identified from a hospital database in 2014-2016. Pars defect of the spondylolysis was classified into three categories based on CT and MRI results: early, progressive, or terminal stage. The STA difference between groups was calculated using one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe F test, which were used for post hoc testing.

A total of 84 cases of L5 spondylolysis and 70 cases of low back pain were identified. No significant difference was found between the STAs of the early- or progressive-stage spondylolysis and the terminal-stage L5 spondylolysis and low back pain patients. The STA of the terminal-stage L5 spondylolysis was significantly lower than that of low back pain patients.

In conclusion, patients with early- or progressive-stage spondylolysis do not have low STA. Low STA is seen only in patients with terminal-stage spondylolysis, suggesting that low STA is associated with remodeling changes in response to shear force after onset of spondylolysis. STA value might not important as a prognostic parameter about development of the spondylolysis.

Level IV.