Journal of spinal disorders
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Degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) is a common condition of the aging spine, but the underlying pathomechanisms remain controversial. Most previous studies focused on the role of facet-joint alignment and reported a pronounced sagittal orientation. This, however, may also be a secondary feature to the slippage. ⋯ There was no statistical difference in lumbar lordosis or L4-5 disc height between the two groups, with disc height being decreased in both groups. In group A, more gliding was associated with a further decrease in disc space, pronounced sagittal alignment of the L4-5 facet joints, and a decrease in lumbar lordosis. We concluded that further studies should focus on the analysis of spinal alignment and lower lumbar end-plate orientation to identify patients at risk for development of DS.