Altered Function of Lumbar Nerve Roots in Patients With Transitional Lumbosacral Vertebrae

Abstract

Our findings suggest that the function of lumbosacral nerve roots is altered in patients with lumbarized S1 so that the S1 nerve root serves the usual function of the L5 nerve root.

Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae: Classification, Imaging Findings, and Clinical Relevance

“…Additionally, although the relationship of low back pain and LSTV, termed "Bertolotti Syndrome," has been debated in the literature since its initial description in 1917, many support this association. [2][3][4]8,9,12,13,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Symptoms can originate from the anomalous articulation itself, the contralateral facet joint (when unilateral), instability and early degeneration of the level cephalad to the transitional vertebrae, and nerve root compression from hypertrophy of the transverse process. 2,3,5,8,9,12,20,24,[29][30][31] The symptoms associated with each of the above processes are treated differently, requiring reliable techniques to not only identify LSTVs but also determine the type and site of the pathology generated by the transitional segment.…”

“…LSTVs are common in the general population, with a reported prevalence of 4%-30%. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The degree of morphologic variation of these segments ranges from L5 vertebrae with broadened elongated transverse processes to complete fusion to the sacrum. Conversely, the S1 vertebral segment can show varying degrees of lumbarization, such as the formation of an anomalous articulation rather than fusion to the remainder of the sacrum, well-formed lumbar-type facet joints, a more squared appearance in the sagittal plane, as well as a well-formed fully-sized disk, rather than the smallersized disk typically seen between S1 and S2.…”

Prevalance evaluation of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae in kahramanmaras population by large-scale screening

“…Bu ilişki ilk olarak 1917 yılında Bertolotti tarafından tanımlanmıştır (17) . Bazı çalışmalarda, bel ağrısı ve transizyonel vertebra arasında anlamlı korelasyonun olmadığı söylenirken (13,18,19) , bazı çalışmalar böyle bir korelasyonun olduğunu gösterilmiştir (2,14,20,21) . Wigh ve ark.…”

Incidence of lumbarization and sacralization in normal and low backache patients – A roentgenogram study

“…The prevalence of the lumbarization of first sacral vertebra varies from 4.2% to 30% in different populations by origin [1][2][3] . The presence of a sixth lumbar vertebra is one of most common anomaly.…”

“…The number of lumbar vertebrae is quite variable in different populations with reported prevalence of variations being 4-30% which may lead to low backache [1][2][3] . These variations include lumbarization of upper segments of sacral vertebrae which show similarity with lumber verte brae and sacralization of last lumbar vertebra resulting in either 6 or 4 lumber vertebrae.…”