Characteristics Associated With Active Defects in Juvenile Spondylolysis

With its technological improvements and lack of radiation exposure, MRI is becoming more attractive as a first-line advanced imaging modality. Although the superiority of MRI over SPECT is yet to be confirmed, clinical use of MRI in the evaluation of spondylolysis seems to be increasing. It is therefore important to characterize the spondylolytic defects that are readily detected with MRI.

Active or early juvenile spondylolysis appears to be associated with males and absence of an associated listhesis. These clinical and radiographic characteristics may be important in the identification of patients with higher potential for osseous healing after nonoperative treatment.