Lumbar ribs: a comprehensive review.
BACKGROUND
To date, no single comprehensive review has been published regarding lumbar ribs. Therefore, the present review was conducted to better elucidate these variant anatomical structures, which can be confused with transverse process fractures or result in miscounting of spine segments for surgical procedures.


METHODS
Using standard search engines, a review of lumbar ribs was performed.


CONCLUSIONS
Lumbar ribs are uncommon but can be misinterpreted on imaging or cause confusion during surgery. Mutations of the FGD1 or Hox10 gene may be involved in the development of lumbar ribs. Knowledge of these structures can decrease misdiagnosis when they are present.
Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
Islam
I
Aly
Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
Jens R
JR
Chapman
Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
Rod J
RJ
Oskouian
Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, True Blue, Grenada.
Marios
M
Loukas
Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA. shane.tubbs@childrensal.org.|, 1600 7th Ave South, Birmingham, AL, USA. shane.tubbs@childrensal.org.
R Shane
RS
Tubbs
D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities*; D009154:Mutation; D012272:Ribs / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
C490796:FGD1 protein, human; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C490289:VSX2 protein, human
Anatomy; Anomaly; Imaging; Spine; Transverse process; Variation