Traumatic Lumbosacral Spondyloptosis in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

A 4-year-old girl was admitted to the emergency department after having been buried beneath a wall. A computed tomography scan revealed anterior grade V L5–S1 spondylolisthesis, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a traumatic rupture of the fibrous annulus of the L5–S1 intervertebral disc and lesion of the anterior longitudinal and yellow ligaments. The patient underwent anterior and posterior fixation. Four months later she was able to walk independently, despite a persistent left foot drop. Additionally, we conducted a literature review on lumbosacral spondyloptosis in the pediatric population published between 1990 and 2017. We found 16 cases, 86.6% of which were male, with a mean patient age of 16 ± 5.05 years. Most patients underwent spine instrumentation. Based on the data reviewed, the neurological status at admission might be a valid predictor of outcome. Pedicle screws are a safe and reliable procedure for stable fixation of the spine in these cases. The removal of screws is discouraged.