The degree of anterolisthesis dose not affect neurogenic intermittent claudication in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis

[Porpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC) and the degree of anterior slippage measured by radiographic findings. [Subjests] Patients were 36 females with 4th lumbar degenerative anterolisthesis. [Methods] We measured neurological symptom limited walking capacity (WC) reflected in NIC by radiographic findings. We examined three points: sagittal anterior deviation in 4th lumbar to 5th in upright, trunk extension, and flexion positions. As physical findings, we used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate subjective symptom intensity after standing upright for 30 seconds. [Results] None of the 3 radiographic findings were correlated to WC in multiple regression analysis. Only VAS was correlated to WC (r²=0.268, p<0.01). [Conclusion] These results suggest that radiographic findings expressing anterior slippage do not explain NIC dynamic symptoms or signs.