title: Synostosis of dorsolumbar spine: an anatomical investigation with emphasis on clinical and embryological details.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives were to study the morphology of fused vertebrae in thoracolumbar region.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 729 thoracolumbar vertebrae which were macroscopically observed for the fusion and morphological details were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that, there was fusion in three of our specimens. One specimen was having fusion between the two typical thoracic vertebrae. The other one had fusion among the three typical thoracic vertebrae. The third specimen had fusion between the twelveth thoracic vertebrae and the first lumbar vertebra. The average length of body of thoracic vertebrae was 1.8 mms, vertebral foramen diameter was 1.4 mms, length of lamina was 1.9 mms and the length of spinous process was 2.6 mms. The same parameters for the fused vertebrae of two typical thoracic was 3.2 mms, 1.1 mms, 4 mms and 4.7 mms respectively. The parameters of fused three typical thoracic vertebrae were 5.2 mms, 1.4 mms, 6.6 mms and 7.9 mms respectively. The average morphometric parameters of the fused thoracolumbar vertebrae were 3.7 mms, 1.4 mms, 4 mms and 3.5 mms respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study has provided additional information on the anatomy and morphology of dorsolumbar spine synostosis with their embryological basis and clinical implications. We believe that the details are clinically important as they might be associated with neurological signs and symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Manipal University, Centre for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College, Bejai, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vadgaonkar
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Murlimanju
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madhyastha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D010808:Physical Examination; D013580:Synostosis / Q000473:pathology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*