Brace treatment of spinal claudication in an adolescent with a grade IV spondylosisthesis--a case report.

UNLABELLED: Although spinal claudication may arise from spondylolisthesis, little information exists about successful conservative treatment of this condition. However there are studies describing pain reduction due to physiotherapy and bracing. Significant improvement of walking distance and pain intensity in an adolescent with scoliosis, spondylolisthesis and spinal claudication while wearing a delordosing spondylogic brace is presented here.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A 14 year old girl with a 25 degrees thoracic scoliosis (2 years postmenarchial), grade IV spondylolisthesis and spinal claudication underwent treatment with a delordosing spondylogic brace. Walking distance without brace was at around 300 steps before intolerable pain appeared. Self reported walking distance was recorded in the brace 14 days after adjustment.

RESULTS

Walking distance increased to an unlimited number of steps after 14 days while pain intensity decreased three points in the VRS. However, no correction effect of the orthosis on the degree of slippage was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is evidence that pain in patients with spondylolithesis can be reduced using exercises and bracing in mild to moderate symptomatic cases, this case demonstrates that bracing can also improve signs and symptoms of spinal claudication in patients with spondylolisthesis of higher degrees. A prospective case series study seems desirable.