Characteristics of fresh lumbar spondylolysis among cases of low back pain during adolescence

Abstract

A total of 1149 high school or younger patients who visited our clinic due to low back pain and underwent MRI were included in this study. They were divided into two groups, namely, with and without fresh lumbar spondylolysis. The evaluation items were pain provocation tests (flexion pain, extension pain, and the Kemp test),gender, age, sports event, and duration from symptom onset to consultation.

There were no differences in the positivity rate of each pain provocation test between the two groups of with and without spondylolysis. The proportion of males with spondylolysis was significantly higher than those without spondylolysis (p＜0.01). The proportion of junior high school students with spondylolysis was significantly higher than those without spondylolysis. The proportion of high school students with spondylolysis was significantly lower than those without spondylolysis (p＜0.01). The sports events in which patients with spondylolysis exceeded those without spondylolysis were soccer, baseball, track and field, and handball. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary to conduct MRI of males, junior high school students, and those who play soccer, baseball, track and field, and handball to make a differential diagnosis of fresh lumbar spondylolysis.