Stress reaction of the pars interarticularis leading to spondylolysis. A cause of adolescent low back pain.

We report an adolescent with progression from a stress reaction of the pars interarticularis without radiographic findings, to radiographic fracture and spondylolysis, illustrating the evolution of spondylolysis in an athletically active early adolescent. Gymnastics, diving, pole vaulting, or collision/contact sports such as football, soccer, hockey, and la crosse are common sports with a disproportional frequency of spondylolysis. Rotational forces around the long axis of the spine with load bearing hyperextension are important in etiology. Low back pain in the active adolescent or preadolescent, even with normal oblique lumbar radiographs, may have a treatable origin--stress reaction or fracture of a lumbar pars interarticularis. Screening evaluation is the standing one-leg extension maneuver. Liberal use of nuclear studies for minimal back symptoms in athletic adolescents may help exclude this relatively common, potentially treatable condition, spondylolysis of the pars interarticularis.