Acquired Spondylolysis as a Sequel to Spine Fusion

Abstract

Five cases of acquired spondylolysis following spine fusion are presented. An autopsy specimen of a lumbosacral fusion is included as the sixth case, which demonstrated such a defect in the isthmus at the upper margin of the fusion. A brief résumé of the theories of the etiology of isthmus defects is presented along with a discussion of the acquired nature of the particular example of spondylolysis considered here.