Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator
Post count: 8660

You have a pars fracture on one side and a dysplastic pars on the other side. The dysplastic pars has elongated from years of partial fracture and healing similar to the limb lengthening procedures (Ilizarof procedures) performed on children with limb deformities. This allows a mechanical connection with the facets and explains the degenerative changes of the facets.

The report notes; “Mild annual bulge without central canal narrowing. Mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing”. This means that the disc has suffered an annular tear. This tear precludes “fixing” the pars fracture. Also, by definition, the elongated pars has allowed a slip of L5 on S1.

What do your X-rays note, especially the standing flexion/extension X-rays?

Have you had diagnostic injections? Epidurals, selective nerve root blocks or discograms (not facet blocks)? The results of these would be quite important to determine what your pain generators are.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.