Spondylolysis is a disorder of the spine in which part of the fifth (or, rarely, the fourth) lumbar vertebra in the lower back consists of soft, fibrous tissue instead of normal bone.
As a result, the affected vertebra is weak and vulnerable to damage under stress, which may produce spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of the vertebra over the one below it).
If spondylolisthesis does occur, it may produce symptoms such as pain and stiffness and require treatment.
Otherwise, spondylolysis usually produces no symptoms and treatment is not needed.

Othere related diseases

BAKERS CYST
A Baker’s cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that develops at the back of the knee. It may be a feature of disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthri...

BONE FRACTURE
A fracture can be a complete break, a crack, or a split part of the way through a bone.
Most fractures are due to a trauma (sudden, strong impact), althou...

BONE SPURS
Also known as osteophytes, bone spurs are bony lumps that grow on bones, around joints, or on the vertebrae (spinal bones). Bone spurs often develop in osteoart...

BUNION
A bunion is a thickened lump at the base of the big toe. The underlying cause is a minor bone deformity, called hallux valgus, in which the joint at the base of...

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS
Cervical spondylosis is the medical term for osteoarthritis of the neck. In this disorder, the cervical vertebrae thicken, bony outgrowths develop on the verteb...

CHARLEY HORSE
A charley horse is the bruising of the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh due to a blow that crushes the muscles against the underlying femur (thigh b...

COCCYDYNIA
Coccydynia is severe, sharp pain in the coccyx (tailbone), the small triangular bone at the base of the spine. It may result from an injury (for example, due to...

COMPARTMENT SYNDROME
Compartment syndrome occurs when excessive pressure builds up within an enclosed group of muscles (called a compartment), usually as a result of bleeding or inf...