Pediatric Back Pain Associated with Bertolotti Syndrome: A Report of 3 Cases with Varying Treatment Strategies

November 18, 2021

doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.21.00068.

Affiliations

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Suraj Dhanjani et al.

JBJS Case Connect.

2021.

Abstract

Case:

Three pediatric patients with back pain associated with Bertolotti syndrome are presented. After failing conservative management, 1 patient underwent mega-apophysis resection, another underwent resection with decompression, and the final underwent posterior fusion. All patients had complete resolution of back pain and returned to full activity at final follow-up.

Conclusion:

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae are congenital anomalies spanning a spectrum from partial/complete L5 sacralization to partial/complete S1 lumbarization with varying clinical presentations. Identification of variable anatomy and symptoms guides surgical management. We present 3 cases with differing surgical techniques including pseudoarticulation resection, arthrodesis of the involved levels, and neuroforaminal decompression.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/B718).

References

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