Spondylosis is osteoarthritis of the spine and Spondylolisthesis is when the bone (vertebra) slips forward onto the bone below it. Spondylolysis only refers to the separation of the pars interarticularis (a small bony arch in the back of the spine between the facet joints), whereas spondylolisthesis refers to anterior slippage of one vertebra over another (in the front of the spine). They are two different diagnosis and probably should be coded as such.
Comments
They are two different diagnosis and probably should be coded as such.