What is the most common type of spondylolisthesis in patients older than 50 years?

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Multiple Choice

What is the most common type of spondylolisthesis in patients older than 50 years?

Degenerative spondylolisthesis arises from age-related wear of the spine. As people get older, the intervertebral discs lose height and hydration, and the facet joints develop osteoarthritic changes. These changes compromise the stability of a motion segment, allowing one vertebral body to slip forward over the one below. It most often occurs at the L4–L5 level and is the most common type seen in people over 50, with a higher prevalence in women. This differs from traumatic spondylolisthesis, which results from an acute fracture and is more typical in younger individuals; dysplastic spondylolisthesis, which is congenital; and pathologic, which occurs when bone weakness (like osteoporosis or tumors) predisposes to slipping.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis arises from age-related wear of the spine. As people get older, the intervertebral discs lose height and hydration, and the facet joints develop osteoarthritic changes. These changes compromise the stability of a motion segment, allowing one vertebral body to slip forward over the one below. It most often occurs at the L4–L5 level and is the most common type seen in people over 50, with a higher prevalence in women. This differs from traumatic spondylolisthesis, which results from an acute fracture and is more typical in younger individuals; dysplastic spondylolisthesis, which is congenital; and pathologic, which occurs when bone weakness (like osteoporosis or tumors) predisposes to slipping.

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