When is surgery essential for spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis?
Surgery would be necessary if the pain keeps recurring despite all the above-mentioned treatment. Additionally, if there is significant neurological deficit, significant slippage of >50% of one vertebra over the other one, significant cosmetic deformity, gait disturbances or pain in the leg, surgery would be essential. In all these situations, surgery would become a “no-choice” situation, i.e. the last and final resort. If there were a weed growing on the wall, repeated attempts to remove the top portion would only lead to recurrence of the growth of the weed unless the roots themselves are removed! Surgery is the only mode of tackling this problem of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis at its roots!
