What does marginal osteophytes at multiple levels indicate?
Patient: 3mm of retrolisthesis of L4 back on L5. Marginal osteophytes at multiple levels and the largest is seen anterior to space at l4-l5. Degenerative changes posterior elements L4-l5 and L5-s1. Mild sclerosis about the left mid s1. Marginal osteophytes at every level of the LS spine. Focal sclerosis left mid S1. Hips: superior acetabular osteophyte. Small sclerotic focus, right intertrochanteric region. Mild degenerative changes at the hips. note: calcium depost caused stress fracture in 1990. Will this just get worse or should I start thinking of partial disability. PT. 55yo male works construction. Injuries were between 1980-82 while in military. Unemployed at this time. Pain in hips moderate to extreme x20+ years now. Back off and on since 1982. Doctor: Hi welcome to HCM, what you have is lumbar spondylitis. Osteophytes are small bony growths in the spine that develop as part of spondylitis. Retrolisthesis is the spinal matter prolapsing backwards, sclerosis means hardening of the spinal soft tissues. Generally all this points to degenerative changes probably set off by the fracture you sustained. Yes construction work can worsen the problem. And you can consider partial disbility. Regards