Risk Factors For Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Of The Cervical Spine:a Cross-sectional Frequency-matched Case-control Study

Study Design.A cross-sectional frequency-matched case-control study in degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine.Objective.To investigate the imaging assessment of the risk factors in degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine.Methods.In this study,40patients with or without C4segment degenerative spondylolisthesis were enrolled in Group1and Group2respectively, and30patients with or without C5segment degenerative spondylolisthesis were enrolled in Group3and Group4. Subjects in Group2and4were frequency-matched by age and sex with patients in Group1and3, respectively. Four parameters on lateral X-ray films were measured.Results.Fifty-eight patients were reviewed. The average age of those patients was52.6±14.8year old, involved26women and32men. The C3/4、C4/5、C5/61evel was most frequently involved. In C4/5level, the height of vertebrae interval, anterior height of the intervertebral disk, the angle of caudal joint facets were significantly decreased in degenerative spondylolisthesis group(p<0.05); but we found more osteophyte formation in degenerative spondylolisthesis group(p<0.05);no significant difference between two group in diffuse sclerosis. In C5/6level, results were similar to C4/5level. The height of vertebrae interval, anterior height of the intervertebral disk, the angle of caudal joint facets were significantly decreased in degenerative spondylolisthesis group(p<0.05); but we found more osteophyte formation in degenerative spondylolisthesis group(p<0.05);no significant difference between two group in diffuse sclerosis.Conclusions.Flattening of the caudal joint facets and degenerative of the disc seem to be the sources of degenerative spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine.