Advertisement for orthosearch.org.uk
You currently have no access to view or download this content. Please log in with your institutional or personal account if you should have access to through either of these
The Bone & Joint Journal Logo

Receive monthly Table of Contents alerts from The Bone & Joint Journal

Comprehensive article alerts can be set up and managed through your account settings

View my account settings

Oophorectomy predisposes to degenerative spondylolisthesis



Download PDF

Abstract

We performed a case-control study on the influence of oophorectomy on the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis, including a clinical review and determination of serum oestradiol levels. We also compared the radiological appearance of the lumbar spine at L4/5 in patients with and without spondylolisthesis and with and without oophorectomy. Oophorectomy was a risk factor for degenerative spondylolisthesis with an odds ratio of 7.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 46). The incidence of degenerative spondylolisthesis in 69 oophorectomised patients was about three times higher than in 69 non-oophorectomised matched control subjects. There was also a difference in spinal variation between oophorectomised and non-oophorectomised patients with spondylolisthesis. A high incidence of sagittal-plane orientation of the L4/5 facet and an increase in pedicle-facet angle were seen in both groups and are typical radiological features of this disease. An increase in lumbosacral angle and in disc-space narrowing was seen only in the non-oophorectomised patients with this condition. Our results suggest that the abrupt decrease in oestradiol level caused by oophorectomy may be a predisposing factor in degenerative spondylolisthesis at L4/5.

For access options please click here