ABSTRACT

A narrow disc space below a transitional vertebra is more likely to be related to the anomaly than to be a degenerative phenomenon. For most signs of disc degeneration, the prevalence was lower in the disc below an anomalous vertebra than in the one above, and the disc at the level above the fused segment has been found to be at an increased risk of degeneration. For this reason the presence of transitional vertebrae should be noted while investigating the lumbosacral region. The purpose of this study was to assess the percentage of patients with a transitional vertebra in the general population.

In this study, 500 consecutive lumbar plain X-rays performed between June 2010 and September 2011 on adult patients (those older than 18 years) were retrospectively reviewed. Visual assessment was done by two orthopedic surgeons and one radiologist, and the presence or absence of a lumbar transitional vertebra was documented according to Castellvi's classification system.

Of the 500 lumbar plain X-ray studies assessed, 412 (82.4%) patients had normal lumbosacral segmentation and 88 (17.6%) had transitional lumbosacral junctions.

The prevalence of transitional vertebrae was 17.6% in this study. Knowledge of the type of transitional vertebra will assist both orthopedic surgeons and radiologists in the early determination and prevention of lower back pain.