AUTHOR=Wang Zheng , Tian Yonghao , Li Chao , Li Donglai , Ibrahim Yakubu , Yuan Suomao , Wang Xia , Tang Juan , Zhang Shijun , Wang Lianlei , Liu Xinyu TITLE=Radiographic risk factors for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: A comparison with healthy control subjects JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.956696 DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2022.956696 ISSN=2296-875X ABSTRACT=Objective

To evaluate the radiologic parameters of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and determine the radiographic risk factors for DLS by making comparisons with healthy control subjects.

Methods

Seventy-five patients with L4/5 DLS (Meyerding grade I) and 53 healthy control subjects were analyzed. The L1-S1 disc height index (DHI), L4/5 facet joint angle (FJA), and relative cross-sectional area (RCSA) of paravertebral muscles were measured in both groups. The initial L4/5 DHI (iDHI) before the onset of DLS were estimated based on the L3/4 DHI of the DLS group and DHI of the control group. The sagittal parameters of DLS were also included in this study.

Results

The DHI of L4/5 was lower in the DLS group than in the control group (P < 0.05), but the DHI of the L1-L4 segments were much higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). The initial L4/5 DHI and FJA of the DLS group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The RCSA of the paravertebral muscles were smaller in the DLS group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that iDHI, FJA, and RCSA of the total paraspinal muscles were risk factors for DLS. The cutoff values for iDHI, FJA, and RCSA were 0.504, 56.968°, and 1.991 respectively. The iDHI was associated with lumbar lordosis (LL), while L4/5 DHI was associated with the RCSA of the multifidus muscle and psoas major muscle (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

A large initial lumbar disc height, large FJA, and paravertebral muscle atrophy may be risk factors for DLS.