Spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 24 of 2017

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis or death from spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   experiencing a high impact trauma to the spine resulting in an acute fracture of the vertebral arch at the time of the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;
2. (2)
   for spondylolisthesis only, experiencing a high impact trauma to the spine resulting in an acute fracture of the vertebral arch or dislocation of the involved vertebra within the one year before the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis;
3. (3)
   for spondylolysis or spondylolytic spondylolisthesis in persons less than 25 years of age only, engaging in activities involving repetitive and forceful hyperextension, torsion or rotation against resistance of the spine for an average period of at least ten hours per week for the six months before the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;

   Note: spondylolytic spondylolisthesis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

   Note: Examples of activities involving repetitive and forceful hyperextension, torsion or rotation against resistance include gymnastics, pole vaulting, dancing, weightlifting, weight training, wrestling, judo, horse riding, swimming and playing football, tennis, volleyball, basketball, golf and cricket.

4. (4)
   having undergone a spinal fusion of a segment of adjacent vertebrae before the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;

   Note: spinal fusion is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

5. (5)
   having undergone spinal surgery as specified at the level of the involved vertebra before the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;

   Note: spinal surgery as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   for degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar or cervical spine only, having spondylosis at the level of the involved vertebra, before the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis;

   Note: degenerative spondylolisthesis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

7. (7)
   having pathological damage to the affected vertebra at the time of the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;

   Note: pathological damage to the affected vertebra is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

8. (8)
   having rheumatoid arthritis involving the affected vertebra at the time of the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis;
9. (9)
   for degenerative anterolisthesis only, being obese for the five years before the clinical onset of spondylolisthesis;

   Note: being obese and degenerative anterolisthesis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

10. (10)
    experiencing a high impact trauma to the spine resulting in an acute fracture of the vertebral arch at the time of the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;
11. (11)
    for spondylolisthesis only, experiencing a high impact trauma to the spine resulting in an acute fracture of the vertebral arch or dislocation of the involved vertebra within the one year before the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis;
12. (12)
    for spondylolytic spondylolisthesis only, having trauma to affected region of the spine at the time of the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis;

    Note: spondylolytic spondylolisthesis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

13. (13)
    for spondylolysis or spondylolytic spondylolisthesis in persons less than 25 years of age only, engaging in activities involving repetitive and forceful hyperextension, torsion or rotation against resistance of the spine for an average period of at least ten hours per week for the six months before the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis; weight training, wrestling, judo, horse riding, swimming and playing football, tennis, volleyball, basketball, golf and cricket;

    Note: spondylolytic spondylolisthesis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

    Note: Examples of activities involving repetitive and forceful hyperextension, torsion or rotation against resistance include gymnastics, pole vaulting, dancing, weightlifting,.

14. (14)
    having undergone spinal surgery as specified at the level of the involved vertebra before the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;

    Note: spinal surgery as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

15. (15)
    for degenerative spondylolisthesis of the lumbar or cervical spine only, having spondylosis at the level of the involved vertebra, before the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis;

    Note: degenerative spondylolisthesis is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

16. (16)
    having pathological damage to the affected vertebra at the time of the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;

    Note: pathological damage to the affected vertebra is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

17. (17)
    having rheumatoid arthritis involving the affected vertebra at the time of the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis;
18. (18)
    for degenerative anterolisthesis only, being obese for the five years before the clinical worsening of spondylolisthesis;

    Note: being obese and degenerative anterolisthesis are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

19. (19)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(10) to 9(19) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.