Update for Chapter 14 : How should you treat spondylolysis in the athlete ?

Since the publication of Evidence-based Sports Medicine, there have been a number of publications addressing the subject of spondylolysis. Although much of this literature expands the cumulative knowledge base on spondylolysis, there are still no published controlled trials on the treatment of spondylolysis in the athlete nor any studies comparing the most widely used diagnostic imaging modalities for this condition. As discussed in the original chapter on spondylolysis for Evidence-based Sports Medicine, there is a general consensus among authors on the pathogenesis and demographics of the disorder, but there are substantial differences in the diagnostic and treatment approaches recommended by various authors. This update will address the recent literature on spondylolysis as it relates to the fundamental question: How should you treat spondylolysis in the athlete?