Intermodal Detection of Lumbar Instability in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis is Superior to Functional Radiographs

In this study, we compare different imaging modalities to find the most sensitive and efficient way of detecting instability in lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Patients presenting with spondylolisthesis from June 01, 2018 to May 31, 2020 with functional radiographs and either CT scans or MRI images were included in our single-center retrospective cohort study. The amount of translation, in millimeters, was measured on supine MRI images, CT scans, and radiographs of inclination while sitting, standing, or prone and reclination while standing using the Meyerding technique. The amount of translation was compared among the different modalities.

A total of 113 patients with spondylolisthesis on 125 vertebral levels were included in this study. The mean patient age was 73.52 ± 12.59 years; 69 (60.5%) patients were females. The most affected level was L4/5 (62.4%), followed by L3/4 (16%) and L5/S1 (13.6%). The average translations measured on supine CT were 4.13 ± 5.93 mm and 4.42 ± 3.49 mm on MRI (p = 0.3 for the difference between MRI and CT). The difference of inclination while sitting radiograph to slice imaging was 3.37 ± 3.64 mm (p < 0.0001), inclination while standing to slice imaging was 2.67 ± 3.03 mm (p < 0.0001), reclination while standing to slice imaging was 1.6 ± 3.15 mm (p = 0.03), and prone to slice imaging was 2.19 ± 3.02 mm (p = 0.03).

We found that a single radiograph in either inclination, reclination, or prone position compared to a CT scan or an MRI image in supine position can detect instability in spondylolisthesis more efficiently than comparison of functional radiographs in any position.