A Whole-Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Cross-Sectional Study of the Clinicoradiological Association of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra with Degenerative Disc Disease, End Plate Degeneration, Low Back Pain, and Facet Tropism.

OBJECTIVE: To understand lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV)-associated degenerative pathologies and their correlation to low back pain and radicular pain. METHODS: Whole-spine magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated for disc degeneration using Pfirrmann grading, end plate changes using total end plate score (TEPS), and facet tropism in patients with low back pain and radicular pain, and their association with LSTV was analyzed. RESULTS: In group 1, LSTV was seen in 15% of patients with 83% of these patients having sacralization. Disc degeneration was seen in 58%, 51%, and 63% of patients at levels C, B, and A, respectively; patients with sacralization had significant degeneration at all 3 levels. Similarly, the total end plate score and facet tropism were significantly higher in patients with sacralization. Facet tropism was observed in 31%, 40%, and 35% of patients with no -LSTV, patients with sacralization, and patients with lumbarization, respectively. In group 2, LSTV was seen in 17% of patients with sacralization accounting for 82%. Disc degeneration was seen in 44%, 36%, and 54% patients at levels C, B, and A, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the mean total end plate score between groups. Facet tropism was identified in 89% and 81% of patients with sacralization and patients with lumbarization, respectively, compared with only 19% of patients with no LSTV. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with low back pain had a higher incidence of sacralization with corresponding disc degeneration, facet tropism ,and end plate changes. In patients with radicular pain, lumbarization was associated only with facet tropism. These findings may aid clinicians in prognostication and patient counseling.

A Whole Spine MRI Based Study of the Prevalence, Associated Disc Degeneration and Anatomical Correlations of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) results in numerical alterations of the lumbar and sacral segments. Literature concerning true prevalence, associated disc degeneration, and variation in numerous anatomical landmarks concerning LSTV is lacking. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study. The prevalence of LSTV was determined in whole spine MRIs of 2011 poly-trauma patients. LSTV was identified as sacralization (LSTV-S) or lumbarization (LSTV-L) and further sub-classified into Castellvi's and O'Driscoll's type respectively. Disc degeneration was evaluated using Pfirmann grading. Variation in important anatomical landmarks was also analysed. RESULTS: Prevalence of LSTV was 11.6% with 82% having LSTV-S. Castellvi's type 2A and O'Driscoll type 4 were the commonest sub-types. LSTV patients demonstrated considerably advanced disc degeneration. The median termination level of conus medullaris (TLCM) in non- LSTV and LSTV-L groups was at middle L1 (48.1% and 40.2%) while in the LSTV-S group, it was at upper L1 (47.2%). The median level of right renal artery (RRA) in non- LSTV patients was at middle L1 in 40.0% of individuals while in the LSTV-L and LSTV-S groups, it was at upper L1 level in 35.2% and 56.2% respectively. The median level of abdominal aortic bifurcation (AA) in non-LSTV and LSTV-S patients was at middle L4 in 83.3% and 52.04% respectively. However, in the LSTV-L group, the most common level was middle L5 (53.6%). CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of LSTV was 11.6%, with sacralization accounting for more than 80%. LSTV is associated with disc degeneration and a variation in the levels of important anatomical landmarks.