2.  Throughout his career as a spinal surgeon,
RaKerry Rahman, MD, has treated patients with
a full range of cervical spine conditions. In
particular, Dr. Ra’Kerry Rahman possesses
considerable experience in the diagnosis and
treatment of spondylolisthesis. A spinal
condition involving the displacement of one
vertebra over another, spondylolisthesis falls
into two categories: degenerative and isthmic.
Degenerative spondylolisthesis occurs most
frequently in older patients, particularly women
older than 60 years of age.

3.  When the joints between the spinal vertebrae
weaken, individual vertebras are held less
tightly and may therefore slip out of place. By
contrast, isthmic spondylolisthesis occurs in
patients with fractures of the pars
interarticularis, or with bone defects due to
genetic factors. Because it can be caused by
twisting and lifting heavy items, isthmic
spondylolisthesis is most common in athletes
such as football players, weight lifters, and
gymnasts. The disorder can also appear in
children as young as eight years old. In these
patients, the condition is often revealed as a
result of growth spurts.