Relationship between radiological and clinical variables in spondylolysis.

A clinical and radiological follow-up investigation with at least 20 years observation time was made of 255 persons with lumbar spondylolysis with or without spondylolisthesis. The main purposes were to study the relationship between clinical and radiological features and to look for radiological and other variables of prognostic value. There was a clear positive correlation of symptoms and functional impairment during the observation period to disc degeneration and vertebral slipping at follow-up, as well as to a decrease in lumbar index at the time of diagnosis. Individual factors and radiological signs at the time of diagnosis were shown to have prognostic value for the course of the disease. The risk factors for severe symptoms and need for treatment were more than 10 mm of vertebral slipping, low lumbar index, increased lumbar lordosis, lysis in the fourth lumbar vertebra and early onset of symptoms.