The purpose of this paper is to survey the literature on Gerbode defect and provide an overview of its history, anatomy, development, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment options. The available literature on this topic, including case reports, was thoroughly reviewed. Gerbode defect is defined as abnormal shunting between the left ventricle and right atrium resulting from either a congenital defect or prior cardiac insults. The pathophysiology underlying the development of Gerbode defect is a disease process that injures the atrioventricular septum and leads to the abnormal shunting of blood. Although the most prevalent cause of Gerbode defect has historically been congenital, an increasing trend towards acquired cases has recently been reported owing to improved diagnostic capabilities and a greater number of invasive cardiac procedures. In conclusion, Gerbode defect is an increasingly recognized condition that warrants further study.

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Few studies have examined the costovertebral joint and its ligaments in detail. Therefore, the following review was performed to better elucidate their anatomy, function and involvement in pathology. Standard search engines were used to find studies concerning the costovertebral joints and ligaments. These often-overlooked ligaments of the body serve important functions in maintaining appropriate alignment between the ribs and spine. With an increasing interest in minimally invasive approaches to the thoracic spine and an improved understanding of the function and innervation of these ligaments, surgeons and clinicians should have a good working knowledge of these structures.

The lateral costotransverse ligament, a short band that stabilizes the costovertebral joint, is found in close proximity to the dorsal root ganglion. This ligament is an important surgical landmark during tumor resections or nerve blocks in the paravertebral space. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively describe the morphology of the lateral costotransverse ligament and its relation to the dorsal root ganglion at all levels of the thoracic spine. The thoracic spines of eight embalmed cadavers were dissected bilaterally. The length, width, and thickness of the ligament were measured. The distance from the inferolateral aspect of the ligament to the lateral aspect of the dorsal root ganglion was also measured. Three bilateral groups of lateral costotransverse ligaments, top (on ribs 1-2), middle (on ribs 3-10), and bottom (on ribs 11-12), were compared based on anatomic distinctions between the costotransverse joints, which can influence ligament morphology. Among the three groups, the differences between the length, width, and thickness were not statistically significant. However, the distance from the lateral costotransverse ligament to the dorsal root ganglion differed significantly (P = 0.000), with the middle group having the longest distance, and the bottom group having the shortest distance. This finding can help clinicians and surgeons avoid iatrogenic injuries of neural structures during thoracic spine surgery, or when performing nerve blocks in the paravertebral space.