A Wiltse classification of type 5 describes which cause of spondylolisthesis?

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Wiltse's classification for spondylolisthesis separates slips by how they happen. Type five is the pathologic form, meaning the slip occurs because a disease process weakens the bone itself—think osteoporosis, bone tumors, infections, or other bone-weakening conditions. The vertebrae can slip under normal loads because the bone integrity is compromised. This differs from other causes: a dysplastic type is due to a congenital abnormality at the lumbosacral junction, a degenerative type comes from aging-related facet joint wear, and a traumatic type results from an acute fracture. So, the correct cause for this type is a pathologic process weakening the bone.