which is rarely more than a grade I slip. Sagittal orientation of the facet joints and facet tropism also has been related to the development of degenerative spondylolisthesis. Pathologic ...

the pain may be manageable without surgery. But a higher “grade” — or degree of slippage — case of spondylolisthesis can cause much more severe pain and warrant aggressive treatment.

Grade V denotes spondyloptosis, as the cephalad body slips into the pelvis. Finally, measurements can be made of the anatomic compensatory changes resulting from the spondylolisthesis. As the slip ...