Incidence and patterns of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, in patients with low backpain in a Nigerian hospital.
BACKGROUND
Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV), is a structural anomaly, of the lumbosacral spine which has been variably associated with, low back pain (LBP) and its presence can also result in a level being wrongly identified pre-operatively.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence, pattern of LSTV and its relationship with LBP in our tertiary hospital.


METHODS
A retrospective review of lumbosacral spine radiographs of 561 one consecutive patients with history of LBP was done from January 2006 to January 2008. The presence or absence of LSTV and degenerative changes were documented.


RESULTS
Fifty-one ((9.1%)) out of 561 patients had LSTV. Type II (incomplete) LSTV was the 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 50 yrs had degenerative changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae type II was the commonest seen in this study, furthermore, LSTV appears to be a causative factor of LBP in young individuals. Careful evaluation of spinal radiographs of patients with LBP belonging to this group is advocated to assess for the presence or absence of LSTV.
Oyinloye
O I
OI
Department of Radiology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Oyinbuk2001@yahoo.com
Abdulkadir
A Y
AY
Babalola
O M
OM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult