Spondylolisthesis Specialist
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Basin Neurosurgical and Spine Associates
Alim M Ladha, MD
Neurosurgeon & Fellowship Trained Spine Surgeon located in Midland and Odessa, TX
Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition in which one of your vertebrae slips out of position. If you have severe spondylolisthesis, you may need spine surgery to correct the structure of your spine and ease symptoms. Alim Ladha, MD, is a highly skilled neurosurgeon at Basin Neurosurgical and Spine Associates in Odessa, Texas. Dr. Ladha specializes in spine surgery for the treatment of spondylolisthesis. Call the office or schedule a consultation online today.
Spondylolisthesis Q & A
What is spondylolisthesis?
Spondylolisthesis is the slipping or movement of a vertebral bone. With this condition, your vertebra slips forward, resting on the vertebra underneath.
The degree of the slippage — low-grade or high-grade (more than 50%) — may determine the severity of symptoms and whether you need surgery or not.
Spondylolysis, a stress fracture in the vertebra, is a common cause of spondylolisthesis. However, the spine condition may also occur from the degenerative changes that occur in your spine as you get older.
What are the symptoms of spondylolisthesis?
Not everyone with spondylolisthesis has symptoms. However, those with symptoms most often have low back pain that radiates into the buttocks and thighs.
Other symptoms may include:
- Muscle spasms
- Tightness in the hamstrings
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the feet
- Problems walking
- Increase in pain when bending down
- Stiffness in the back.
Spondylolisthesis symptoms occur because of an increase in pressure on the spinal root nerve.
Who needs surgery for spondylolisthesis?
Dr. Ladha conducts a comprehensive exam when you come in for a back pain and spine surgery consultation. When considering spine surgery, he performs a comprehensive exam, assessing your whole health, including the entire structure of your spine.
He may recommend surgery for your spondylolisthesis if you have a high-grade slippage. He may also recommend surgery if your spondylolisthesis causes severe pain and nonsurgical treatments fail to ease your symptoms.
What happens during spine surgery for spondylolisthesis?
Dr. Ladha customizes your spine surgery plan based on the location and severity of your spondylolisthesis, as well as your medical history.
For most patients, Dr. Ladha performs a spinal fusion between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. This procedure fuses the bones together, stopping the spinal movements that trigger your pain.
If you have a high-grade slippage with spinal nerve compression, Dr. Ladha may perform an additional procedure to open up the spinal canal and ease pressure on the spinal nerve.
When possible, Dr. Ladha performs minimally invasive spine surgery to reduce incision size, postsurgical pain, and recovery time.
Find out if spine surgery can help your spondylolisthesis by calling Basin Neurosurgical and Spine Associates or scheduling an appointment online today.