Bilateral pars defect

Case contributed by Jeremy Jones
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Longstanding back pain. No recent trauma.

Patient Data

Age: 12
Gender: Female
x-ray

There is an oblique lucent line that traverses the pars of the L4 vertebra.

ct

Bilateral pars defect, but with no anterior displacement (no anterolisthesis). In addition, there is sacralization of L5.

Case Discussion

The cause of the back pain is demonstrated here as bilateral pars defect without anterolisthesis.

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