M43.07: Spondylolysis Lumbosacral region

A crack has formed in one or more of your vertebrae.

The spine consists of several sections. The cervical spine begins below the head. The cervical spine is very mobile. Below that is the thoracic spine. The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine. Below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine is also very mobile and it bears a large part of the body’s weight. After the lumbar spine, the sacrum and coccyx join. One or more vertebrae at the junction between your lumbar spine and your sacrum are affected.

Most vertebrae consist of a vertebral body and a vertebral arch. The vertebral body bears the weight of the body. The vertebral arches lie on top of one another to form the spinal canal. The spinal cord lies in the vertebral canal.

Tiny fissures can form in the vertebral arch if it comes under a lot of pressure or if injuries occur. If these fissures fail to heal properly, a crack can form at that location in the vertebral arch. Congenital weakness can also cause small fissures to form and lead to the formation of a crack. So hereditary factors can also play a part.

A crack in the vertebral arch may just be a sort of dent. But the crack may also go right through the arch. This can cause parts of the vertebra to move. This will make the spine less stable than it usually is. You may have pain in the back as a result of the crack in your vertebral arch.