Does Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra Have Any Influence on Sacral Tilt?

Study design. Retrospective case-control study. Objective. To compare the sacral tilt (ST) angle between patients with and without lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV). Summary of Background Data. Although LSTV is a common malformation of the lumbosacral region, data regarding the effect of LSTV on the tilt of sacrum is limited. Methods. Anterioposterior and lateral lumbar radiographs of patients with low back pain performed between March 2013 and September 2013 were extracted from the medical electronic database. Among these radiographs, those belonging to patients with Castellvi types II, III, and IV LSTV were identified. The angle of ST was measured on lateral lumbar radiographs and compared with that of age- and sex-matched controls without LSTV. Results. Of the 1588 radiographs extracted from the database, 96 (6.1%) were positive in terms of Castellvi types II, III and IV LSTV. 85 of them were found to be eligible for analysis. Patients with LSTV had significantly smaller ST angle than those without LSTV (p = 0.000). However, this angle did not differ among types (II, III and IV) of LSTV (p = 0.788). Conclusion. Results of this study revealed that patients with LSTV had less ST—that is to say more vertical sacrum—than those without this malformation. Level of Evidence: 4

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