Spondylolysis

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Spondylolysis is a very common cause of lower back pain in kids, teens, and young adults. It usually heals quickly with rest and other nonsurgical treatments. The orthopedic specialists at Cook Children's provide advanced diagnosis and treatment to help your child heal and get back to their activities and the business of being a kid.

The spine (or backbone) has 33 bones called vertebrae. Nine vertebrae are fused together to form the tailbone, and the other 24 are in the back. Located in the lower back, closest to the tailbone, the lumbar vertebrae are where spondylolysis usually happens.

Spondylolysis is a fracture in the part of the vertebra called the pars (or pars interarticularis). Each vertebra has two pars, one on the left side and one on the right. A pars defect or stress fracture can happen on one or both sides of this bone.

The most common symptom of spondylolysis is lower back pain is. The pain usually gets worse during exercise or other physical activity, especially activities where someone leans back a lot. Spondylolysis also can cause buttock and leg pain, and tight hamstrings.

Sometimes, kids and teens with spondylolysis won't have any obvious symptoms and don't realize that they have the condition.

Young people are more at risk for spondylolysis because their bones are still growing.

Kids and teens who play sports and do activities that can strain the lower back or that involve a lot of leaning back — like football, weightlifting, gymnastics, volleyball, ballet, golf, and wrestling — are especially likely to develop it.

Your child's doctor will do a thorough exam. During the exam, they might push on your child's back or ask them to bend backward to hyperextend the spine. If these things cause back pain, it's likely that there's a fracture in the pars.

Other things, such as muscle pain, a pinched nerve, or herniated (bulging) disc, also can cause lower back pain. To rule those out — or to confirm a diagnosis of spondylolysis — the doctor may order tests such as a:

Back X-ray, which can show many fractures
Bone scan or a CT (computed tomography) scan, which can detect smaller fractures
Lumbar MRI scan

Most cases of spondylolysis heal just fine when caught early and treated properly. If your child has spondylolysis, your doctor may recommend:

A break from sports and other strenuous activities
Plenty of rest
Core-strengthening exercises that don't strain the lower back
Flexibility training
Physical therapy
Medicine to help ease pain and swelling
Wearing a back brace or support

Most kids and teens will feel better in about 3 months. They should be pain-free and have their full range of motion before playing contact sports or doing strenuous activities.

It's very important that your child follows the recovery plan. If the injury isn't allowed to heal properly, spondylolysis can lead to chronic (long-lasting) back pain and loss in flexibility. If this happens, surgery might be needed to fix the problem.

Sometimes, kids with spondylolysis develop a painful condition called spondylolisthesis. This happens when the front part of a vertebra slides away from the back part. Spondylolisthesis is usually mild and typically heals with rest and strengthening and stretching exercises provided by your child's doctor or physical therapist.

Spondylolysis is hard to prevent because it can happen all at once or over time. But the following suggestions can help young athletes lower their risk:

Limiting time spent on high-risk sports
Resting and recovering after physical activities
Keeping core muscles strong
Warming up properly before playing any sports
Stretching regularly
Using safety equipment correctly
Following the rules and techniques for their sport or activity
Maintaining a healthy weight

The sports and activities that can cause spondylolysis are often very competitive and attract motivated, driven kids and teens (and sometimes, parents). So it's important to keep your child's temperament in mind when dealing with spondylolysis and its recovery.

Besides their own wishes to return to what they love, kids and teens also might be under pressure to get back into the game from coaches, teammates — and even parents. But a safe return to play is very important. Kids should get the OK from their doctor before they return to physically demanding activities and sports.

After spondylolysis, kids and teens need to keep up with the proper techniques and sports safety measures they learned in recovery. They should maintain their core strength and flexibility, and take breaks between sports seasons, games, and competitions.

Also, be sure that your kids know to immediately stop any activity that causes back pain. They should see their health care provider and not return to play until the pain goes away.

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Spondylolysis

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Can spondylolysis be prevented?

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