Hi, I am a 35 yr old female. I have had 4 back surgeries first was a laminectomy of l4-5 in 2000, then an artificial disc replacement at same level in 2005. They left the artificial disc in and did a fusion of l4-s1 in 2013, which had to be revised the next day due to 2 of the screws at the l4-5 level being too big. Recently I’ve been having a lot of pain, especially when I bend forward and try to straighten up. So I had an xray and mri done. The xray shows anterolisthesis of l4-l5 of 4.8 mm which increases to 5.3 with extension. My pain doctor referred me to a surgeon, a different one than the one who did the fusion, I did not want to go back to him. He says this type of movement is abnormal. I went back a nd looked at previous xrays, a nd a month after the fusion it shows 3 mm of anterolisthesis with flexion. Why would this have been doing this after the fusion? I noticed it has increased in mm with time. Can anyone give me their opinion on what is going on?
Hi
Hope I understand correctly you did L1-4 fusion then you had L5 anterolisthesis
This is normal after such fusion surgery your doctor should have explained it could happen however if L4 anterolisthesis happens it means surgery went wrong , unfortunately another surgery is a must in both cases, until then wear a back brace
This happened because all the back movement is focused on one or two vertebrae only
Good Luck
Normally and in right situations..
Fused vertebrae could not move forward as they are completely fused .this means the fusion surgery has partially failed due to some cause..
You need really to see another orthopedic surgeon ..
hi,
this is a failed back syndrome.
this occurs due to inadequately or improperly done fusion/laminectomy.
ideally L4-S1 fusion,once performed,should not allow L4-5 listhesis to occur.
You may need another surgery.
Consult a neurosurgeon.
thanks