Complete Fusion of Fifth Lumbar Vertebra With Sacrum: An Osteological Case Report

Abstract

Lumbosacral region of the body not only protects the spinal cord and related structures but also transmit the body weight to lower extremity and maintains the body posture. Sacralization of the 5 th lumbar vertebrae, is a congenital vertebral anomaly of the lumbosacral region and may be unilateral or bilateral. Although, sacralization is not a serious anomaly, perhaps no more than an anatomical variant, the fusion of the lumbrosacral joint may cause low back pain, disc herniation, cervical ribs, Bertollotti's syndrome and difficulty during labor. To highlight the complication of sacralization and its related impact on the body, we report a case of complete fusion of 5 th lumbar vertebra with sacrum (sacralization). The relationship between incidence of sacralization with low back pain is debatable but still the present study may help anatomists, clinicians and surgeons to know the complications of sacralization and its impact on the body that in turn help in diagnostic and therapeutic management of illness around lumbosacral region. Future studies need to focus on identifying other parameters that are relevant to distinguishing lumbosacral variations and associated disorders.