title: Unsuspected reason for sciatica in Bertolotti's syndrome.
abstract: Patients with Bertolotti's syndrome have characteristic lumbosacral anomalies and often have severe sciatica. We describe a patient with this syndrome in whom standard decompression of the affected nerve root failed, but endoscopic lumbosacral extraforaminal decompression relieved the symptoms. We suggest that the intractable sciatica in this syndrome could arise from impingement of the nerve root extraforaminally by compression caused by the enlarged transverse process.
authors.affiliation: Aichi Spine Institute, 41 Gouhigashi, Takao, Fuso-cho, Niwa-gun, Aichi 480-0102, Japan. moto@itoortho.or.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibayama
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery; D013577:Syndrome