Diagnostic Limitations and Aspects of the Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae (LSTV)

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and nerve-root symptoms.

Transitional vertebrae (TV) may be one of the risk factors for lumbar disc herniation. It is not clear, however, whether the presence of TV can affect the development of nerve-root symptoms. Our aim was to clarify this relationship. A total of 501 patients with lumbar degenerative disease and nerve-root symptoms was studied in respect of their level and the presence of TV. As a control group, 5...

Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae and Its Prevalence in the Australian Population

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Objective Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) are a common congenital anomaly, and they can be accurately identified on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of the lumbosacral spine. This study attempts to determine the prevalence of this congenital anomaly and to increase awareness among all clinicians to reduce the risk of surgical and procedural err...

The association between lumbar rib and lumbosacral transitional vertebrae

Transitional lumbosacral vertebrae and low back pain: diagnostic pitfalls and management of Bertolotti's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE Bertolotti's syndrome is a spine disorder characterized by the occurrence of a congenital lumbar transverse mega-apophysis in a transitional vertebral body that usually articulates with the sacrum or the iliac bone. It has been considered a possible cause of low back pain. METHOD We analyzed the cases of Bertolotti's syndrome that failed clinical treatment and reviewed the literatur...

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae: classification, imaging findings, and clinical relevance.

SUMMARY LSTVs are common within the spine, and their association with low back pain has been debated in the literature for nearly a century. LSTVs include sacralization of the lowest lumbar vertebral body and lumbarization of the uppermost sacral segment. These vertebral bodies demonstrate varying morphology, ranging from broadened transverse processes to complete fusion. Low back pain associat...