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The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 82-B, Issue 2 | Pages 308 - 308
1 Mar 2000
FRASER RD LOVE TW FAGAN AB


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 81-B, Issue 4 | Pages 670 - 674
1 Jul 1999
Love TW Fagan AB Fraser RD

Degenerative spondylolisthesis is four times more common in women than in men. Although this gender difference has long been recognised there has been no explanation for it. We have examined the radiographs and CT scans of 118 patients over the age of 55 years and of a control group under the age of 46 years.

Our findings confirmed the presence of more sagittally-orientated facet joints in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis but did not show that the gender difference can be explained by the morphology of the facet joint.

Furthermore, we conclude that the increased angle of the facet joint is the result of arthritic remodelling and not the primary cause of degenerative spondylolisthesis. It is more likely to be due to loss of soft-tissue resilience with subsequent failure of the facet joints which are acting as the last restraints to subluxation.