Abstract
Spondylolysis is a bone defect that affects the pars interarticularis of a vertebra (Fig. 30.1). The pars interarticularis is a small isthmus located between the facet joints of the vertebrae above and below. This usually occurs on a bilateral basis, affecting the L5 (85–95%) and on rarer occasions affecting the proximal lumbar vertebrae, the affectation of which is usually unilateral. An isthmic unilateral lesion is observed in 14–30% of cases. It may be associated with injuries at other levels or with lysis on the contralateral side, which develops over time. Although it is rare, it may affect several levels simultaneously.
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Pedret, C., Balius, R., Ruiz-Cotorro, A. (2018). Spondylolysis. In: Di Giacomo, G., Ellenbecker, T., Kibler, W. (eds) Tennis Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71498-1_30
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