Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae: A Case Report and Clinical Implications

Abstract

SUMMARY:A lumbosacral transitional vertebra is a rare congenital anomaly which occurs because of defect in the segmentation of the lumbosacral spine during development. During routine osteology classes for the medical students at the Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India, one of the sacra showed the fusion of the fifth lumbar vertebra with the sacrum. The specimen showed an incomplete fusion (sacralization) on the left side and the transverse process was of the large butterfly shape, while on the right it was about the usual size. Though this variation is well known, the details of this anomaly are rarely reported in the anatomical literature. Since there is a strong relationship between the lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and low back pain, this anomaly has gotten increased clinical interest. So this case was studied in detail with relevant review of literature and its surgical, radiological implications are discussed.

Sacralization : Sacrum with Five Pairs of Sacral Foramina

“…The incidence of sacralization was more incase of male than female, which was similar to the study done by Murlimanju,B.V. et al in Mangalore, India 4 . As compare to lumbarization, sacralization is more painful .The lumbosacral spine protect the spinal cord and spinal nerves.…”

“…Low back pain is quite a common ailment affecting about 80% of the population in their life time 3 . It is possible that L 5 sacralization contributes to the development of orthopedic diseases like degenerative spondylolisthesis, lumbar disc degeneration, herniation and low back pain 4 .…”

Estudio de caso: conservación y análisis osteobiográfico del material óseo proveniente del sitio Hornos de Cal, costa de Taltal, norte de Chile

“…A pesar de la ausencia de patologías morfofuncionales, degenerativas, metabólicas, nutricionales, etc., el individuo sí presenta una condición patológica llamativa en la zona lumbosacra. Esta corresponde a una hemisacralización unilateral derecha de L5 (ver Figura 3), una anomalía congénita poco frecuente que se produce debido a defectos en la segmentación de la columna lumbosacra durante el desarrollo (Murlimanju, Prabhu, Pai, Ganeshkumar y Sarvepalli, 2011).…”

Causas o azares: reflexiones en torno a presencia de malformaciones congénitas de la columna vertebral en poblaciones arqueológicas de la costa desértica de Antofagasta, norte de Chile

“…Dentro de los defectos del desarrollo que se producen en la columna vertebral se encuentra el caso de las vértebras en transición lumbosacra o LSTV, que corresponden a defectos en la segmentación de la columna lumbosacra durante el desarrollo intrauterino (Murlimanju, Prabhu, Pai, Ganeshkumar y Sarvepalli, 2011). Castellvi, Goldstein y Chan (1984), clasificaron las LSTV en 4 tipos (Fig.…”