title: Minimally Invasive Microendoscopic Resection of the Transverse Process for Treatment of Low Back Pain with Bertolotti's Syndrome.
abstract: Bertolotti's syndrome is characterized by anomalous enlargement of the transverse process of the most caudal lumbar segment, causing chronic and persistent low back pain or sciatica. We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with left sciatic pain and low back pain due to a recurrent lumbar disc herniation at L4-5 with Bertolotti's syndrome. Selective L5 nerve root block and local injection of lidocaine into the articulation between the transverse process and sacral ala temporarily relieved the left sciatic pain and low back pain, respectively. To confirm the effect of local injection on low back pain, we gave a second local injection, which once again relieved the low back pain. Microendoscopic resection of the pseudoarticulation region and discectomy successfully relieved all symptoms. This report illustrates the effectiveness of minimally invasive resection of the transverse process for the treatment of low back pain with Bertolotti's syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8579-4043
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higashino
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mineta
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2033-4019
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sairyo