Spondylolisthesis can be described as what?

Spondylolisthesis specifically refers to the condition where one vertebra slips forward over the one below it, which is accurately captured by the description of it as the "slipping of one vertebra over another." This displacement can occur due to various factors, including congenital defects, degenerative changes, trauma, or stress fractures.

Understanding the mechanics of spondylolisthesis is crucial, as the degree of slippage can vary and may lead to spinal instability, which can result in pain or neurological symptoms if nerve roots become compressed. In contrast, the other descriptions pertain to different spinal conditions or injuries, which do not convey the specific action of vertebrae displacement involved in spondylolisthesis. For example, describing it as a fracture of a vertebral body, compression of nerve roots, or degeneration of spinal discs does not capture the characteristic movement that defines spondylolisthesis.