The key difference between Spondylosis and Spondylolisthesis is that, in spondylosis, the lesion is the degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc whereas, in spondylolisthesis, the lesion is the displacement of an intervertebral disc.
The vertebral column is a protective covering that is there to guard the spinal cord passing through it. Therefore, any lesion associated with the vertebral column has the potential to damage the spinal cord and cause severe neurological deficits. Spondylosis and spondylolisthesis are two such conditions that may affect the spinal cord of the affected patient. The fundamental lesion of spondylosis occurs within the intervertebral discs which are fibrous joints whose capsules inserts into the rim of the adjacent vertebrae. Spondylolisthesis typically develops in young adults and teenagers following the displacement of a vertebral disc often due to a congenital weakness in the pars interarticularis.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Spondylosis
3. What is Spondylolisthesis
4. Similarities Between Spondylosis and Spondylolisthesis
5. Side by Side Comparison – Spondylosis vs Spondylolisthesis in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Spondylosis?
The fundamental lesion of spondylosis occurs within the intervertebral discs which are fibrous joints whose capsules inserts into the rim of the adjacent vertebrae. Within the fibrous capsule of the joint lies a gel-like inner core.
Degenerative changes of the joint start typically during the early twenties and the rate of degeneration gradually increases with advancing age. Spondylosis is most of the time due to osteoarthritis but can be due to other degenerative conditions too.
Figure 01: Spondylosis
The outer fibrous capsule develops radial or circumferential fissures. The gel within the capsule losses its compliance and this results in a limitation of the movements of the joint. In the initial stages, spondylosis remains asymptomatic, and changes are visible only in an MRI. Lumbar and thoracic spines are the most common sites to get affected by spondylosis.
Clinical Features
With the disease progression, the patient can have the following clinical features
- Episodic mechanical spinal pain
- Progressive stiffening of the spine
- Disc prolapse which may or may not be associated with neurological signs
- Spinal stenosis
- spondylolisthesis
Treatment
- analgesia to alleviate the pain
- physiotherapy
- back muscle training
- manipulation
What is Spondylolisthesis?
Spondylolisthesis typically develops in young adults and teenagers following the displacement of a vertebral disc often due to a congenital weakness in the pars interarticularis. This may or may not be associated with trauma. The patient can occasionally have an associated cauda equina syndrome also.
Figure 02: Spondylolisthesis
The diagnosis of the disease is based on the radiological evidence. Older people can get the disease secondary to osteoarthritis and lumbar spondylosis. Orthopedic assessment is required for the further management of the patient.
What is the Similarity Between Spondylosis and Spondylolisthesis?
- Both diseases are pathological conditions of the spine.
What is the Difference Between Spondylosis and Spondylolisthesis?
The fundamental lesion of spondylosis occurs within the intervertebral discs which are fibrous joints whose capsules inserts into the rim of the adjacent vertebrae. On the other hand, Spondylolisthesis typically develops in young adults and teenagers following the displacement of a vertebral disc often due to a congenital weakness in the pars interarticularis. Therefore, in spondylosis, the lesion is the degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc whereas in spondylolisthesis the lesion is the displacement of an intervertebral disc. This is the main difference between spondylosis and spondylolisthesis. Tabulated below are more differences between spondylosis and spondylolisthesis regarding their cause, occurence, clinical features, and treatment.
Summary – Spondylosis vs Spondylolisthesis
The fundamental lesion of spondylosis occurs within the intervertebral discs which are fibrous joints whose capsules inserts into the rim of the adjacent vertebrae. Spondylolisthesis typically develops in young adults and teenagers following the displacement of a vertebral disc often due to a congenital weakness in the pars interarticularis. As their definitions state in spondylosis the lesion lies within the intervertebral disc, but in spondylolisthesis, the lesion is the displacement of an intervertebral disc. This is the principal difference between spondylosis and spondylolisthesis.
Reference:
1.Parveen Kumar. Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine. Edited by Michael L Clark, 8th ed.
Image Courtesy:
1.’ACDF oblique annotated english’By debivort (talk) – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2.’Spondylolisthesis’By BruceBlaus – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia