title: Spina bifida occulta of S1 is not an innocent finding.
abstract: One thousand two hundred patients (600 women and 600 men) aged 18 to 72 years were referred for computed tomographic examination of the lumbosacral spine (L3-S1) after low-back pain or sciatica. Patients with spinal abnormalities other than spina bifida occulta (SBO)-S1 and findings other than posterior herniation of intervertebral disc were not included in this study. All of the patients underwent conventional radiographs of the lumbosacral spine. The incidence of SBO-S1 was higher in younger age groups and decreased with age. Patients with SBO-S1 showed a higher incidence of posterior disc herniation, which increased with age. This can be explained by instability of the base of the lumbar spine caused by SBO-S1, which produces a predisposition to posterior disc herniation. The results were statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avrahami
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frishman
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fridman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012585:Sciatica / Q000150:complications; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed