The spine is made up of a series of connected bones called vertebrae. In about 5% of the adult population, there is a developmental crack in one of the vertebrae, usually at the point at which the lower (lumbar) part of the spine joins the tailbone (sacrum). It may develop as a stress fracture.
Because of the constant forces the low back experiences, this fracture does not usually heal as normal bone. This type of fracture (called a spondylolysis) is simply a crack in part of the vertebra and may cause no problem at all. However, sometimes the cracked vertebra does slip forward over the vertebra below it, causing neck pain or back pain.
Common cases of spondylolisthesis can occur in the neck and are also known as neck arthritis. Learn about cervical spondylosis (neck arthritis) here.
