Incidence and Patterns of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae, in Patients with Low Backpain in a Nigerian Hospital

Abstract

Background: Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae ( LSTV), is a structural anomaly, of the l u mbosacral spine which has been variably associated with, low back pain ( LBP) and its presence can also result i n a level being wrongly identified pre-operatively.
Objectives: To determine the incidence, pattern of LSTV and its  relationship with LBP in our tertiary hospital.
Methods: A retrospective review of l u mbosacral spine radiographs of 561 one consecutive patients with history of LBP was done from January 2006 to January 2008. The p resence or absence of LSTV and degenerative changes were documented.
Results: Fifty - one ((9.1 %)) out of 56 1 patients had LSTV. Type II (incomplete) LSTV was t h e commonest type, occurring in 86.3% of patient with LSTV. Patients less than 30yrs with LBP and LSTV had no degenerative changes, while all patients with LSTV above 50yrs had degenerative changes.
Conclusion: Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae type II was the commonest seen in this study , f u rt hermore. LSTV appears to be a causative factor of LBP in young individuals. Careful evaluation of spinal radiographs of patients with LBP belonging to this g roup is advocated to assess for the
presence or absence of LSTV.

Keywords : Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, low back pain .