title: Implications of structural variations in the human sacrum: why is an anatomical classification crucial?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An array of diversity in sacral anatomy including lumbosacral transitional variations is commonly found in the general population. These anatomical variations involve alterations in number of sacral segments, auricular surface area, and neural arch dimensions and are associated with biomechanical, surgical and obstetric implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study reports screening >300 dried human sacral specimens and grouping them based on the common variations observed specifically in context of the number of sacral segments, position of the auricular surfaces, and type of the neural arch components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Screening and grouping of the samples presented a five-group classification and coding system that incorporates specific structural characteristic in a sacrum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The grouping and coding system developed in this study classifies variabilities associated with sacral anatomy along a common-to-rare anatomical spectrum that may provide handy information needed in a clinical, biomechanical, obstetric or medico-legal context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA. nm620511@ohio.edu.
authors.forename: Niladri Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Mahato
mesh_terms: D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002965:Classification; D006801:Humans; D012447:Sacrum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: LSTV; Low back pain; Lumbariztaion; Lumbosacral; Obstetrics; Pseudo-articulation; Sacralisation; Sacroiliac