BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often the first study in evaluation of neck pathology. Recent studies in the lumbar spine have shown that supine positioning on the MRI may make the abnormal translation diminish or even disappear. Missed spondylolisthesis can prevent accurate diagnosis of a source of neck pain and cervical myelopathy. Additionally, recent developments in disc arthroplasty have brought new importance to facet joint degeneration and its relationship to abnormal translation. There has not been a study to date exploring a possible association of cross-sectional facet area on MRI to degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: With the increasing prevalence and availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), plain radiographs are often not taken until consultation with a specialist. Recent studies in the lumbar spine have shown that supine positioning on MRI may make the abnormal translation diminish or even disappear, and the same issue has been seen with supine cervical MRI's. Missed spondylolisthesis can prevent accurate diagnosis of a source of neck pain and cervical myelopathy. No study to date has addressed the utility of MRI in identifying spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Cervical spondylolisthesis is reported as present in the literature when there is 2 mm of translation between two adjacent vertebral bodies. This criterion was first used to identify cervical spondylolisthesis in a 1986 Skeletal Radiology article by Dr. Lee, et al. The distance of 2 mm was chosen because it was the amount of translation notable to most people on lateral radiographs and has subsequently became the standard. To our knowledge there has not been a study addressing the distribution of the amount of translation.