Post-traumatic L4-L5 spondyloptosis with cauda equina syndrome: A case report

Spondyloptosis at a lumbar level is usually encountered in an isthmic or a dysplastic types of spondylolisthesis. Post-traumatic lumbar spondyloptosis is comparatively a rare entity. As the injury involves a complete failure of all the osteo-ligamentous structures, it is highly unstable and has a high probability of a complete neurological deficit. On the contrary, the injury also has a lot of chances of meaningful neurological recovery if realignment and stabilization are done on an urgent basis. Here we report a case of L4-L5 post-traumatic spondyloptosis with complete motor weakness below the injury level with sensory and bowel & bladder dysfunction. The neurological injury recovered significantly within four months of operative reduction, decompression, and stabilization.