Hensinger identified risk factors for problems secondary to spondylolisthesis. These can help identify a patient who may require closer monitoring and/or more aggressive management. The author is from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Risk factors for problems:
(1) growth spurt during adolescent (from ages 10-15 years), with increased risk if the growth spurt has an early onset
(2) female gender
(3) recurrent episodes of pain in the back secondary to spondylolisthesis
(4) postural deformity
(5) abnormal gait due to tight hamstring muscles
(6) Wiltse type I (dysplastic) > type II (isthmus)
(7) Meyerding Grade III or IV slippage (> 50%)
(8) increasing angle of slip
(9) instability, with a "teeter-totter" appearance (sacrum dome-shaped, L5 vertebral body trapezoidal, lack of sclerotic change at L5-S1)
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