Characteristics of patients with DS and LSS.

PurposeThis study aimed to examine the vertebral body shape characteristics and spondylopelvic alignment in L4 degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) as well as the risk factors for the development of DS.MethodsThis cross-sectional study compared vertebral morphology and sagittal spinopelvic alignment in female patients with lumbar DS and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The degree of lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), cross-sectional area (CSA), and vertebral body height ratio (ha/hp) of the lumbar spine were compared using full-length spine radiographs and computed tomography in 60 females with DS and in 60 women with LSS.ResultsNo significant differences in age or body mass index were observed between the two groups; however, the DS and LSS groups significantly differed in PI (mean, 58.9±10.8 vs. 47.2±11.6, P 0.001), L4 CSA (mean, 1,166.2 m2 vs. 1,242.0 m2, P = 0.002) and ha/hp (mean, 1.134 vs. 1.007, P ha/hp was significantly higher in the DS group than in the LSS group. Additionally, LL values were negatively correlated with vertebral L5 CSA in the DS group (r = −0.28, P ha/hp (r = 0.331, 0.267, and 0.317; P ha/hp (r = 0.333, 0.331; P ha/hp ratio may be independent predictors of DS development.ConclusionThe DS group had significantly larger LL, PI, and L4 ha/hp and smaller L4 CSA than the LSS group. The lumbar vertebral body shape and sagittal spinopelvic alignment in females might be independent predictors of DS development.