Bertolotti’s Syndrome: Association of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae (LSTV) With Low Back Pain (LBP) and Lumbosacral Degenerative Changes on Lumbosacral Radiograph

Gabkwet Anthony Epga; Igoh Emmanuel Owoicho; Salaam Abdul Jimoh; Taiwo Yetunde Folake; Danjem Samuel Moses; Pam Stephen Daniel

doi:10.59573/emsj.8(6).2024.22

Authors

Gabkwet Anthony Epga
Igoh Emmanuel Owoicho
Salaam Abdul Jimoh
Taiwo Yetunde Folake
Danjem Samuel Moses
Pam Stephen Daniel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59573/emsj.8(6).2024.22

Keywords:

lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, low back pain, Bertolotti’s syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) are common spinal congenital anomalies that affect both genders, and their association with low back pain has been debated in the literature for decades.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and association of LSTV and low back pain (LBP), evaluate the association between degenerative lumbosacral changes and LSTV using standard lumbosacral radiographs in a Nigerian population.

Methods: Standard anterior-posterior and lateral views of the lumbosacral spine of 399 patients who presented with low back pain (LBP) were reviewed and the transverse processes of L5 were graded according to Castellvi classification of LSTV.

Results: Out of the 399 radiographs reviewed, 168(42.1%) were males while 231(57.9%) were females with a ratio of 0.7:1. The prevalence of LSTV in the study was 30.1% with a higher rate in men than in women (35.1% vs 26.4%). Of the 120(30.1%) individuals with LSTV, 23.3% were Type I (dysplastic enlarged transverse process), 6.3% were Type II (pseudoarticulation), and 0.5% were type IV (one transverse process fused and one with pseudoarticulation). Of the 399 patients with low back pain, 218(54.6%) had degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine while 181(45.4%) showed nil degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine. The study also showed, 22(10.1%), 33(15.1%), 5(2.3%) and 12(5.5%) who had degenerative change had type IA, IB, IIA and IIB respectively while 18(9.9%), 20(11.0%), 4(2.2%) 4(2.2%) and 2(1.1%) without degenerative change had type IA, IB, IIA, IIB, and type 4 respectively.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates an association between LSTV with LBP and the male gender shows a higher prevalence of LSTV when compared with the female gender.

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