2/15/2024 0 Comments Spinal transverse process![]() A simple x-ray of the lumbar spine, with special focus on the lower vertebrae and the sacral area, can quickly identify this abnormality. A thorough physical exam will include efforts to recreate movement that triggers the pain. Many people with this skeletal abnormality will not experience pain or discomfort, but those who do are likely to suffer from chronic lower back pain that can be severe enough to significantly impact their daily living.īertolotti’s Syndrome is very treatable. Muscle tightness and spasm in the region of the lower back and pelvis can lead to feeling of stiffness and pain, especially with transition in movement.īertolotti’s Syndrome affects less than 10 percent of the population. Often one side of the back has more muscle spasm, although both sides can be affected. Neighboring muscles. Anatomical variation can result in unequal forces on nearby muscles.This disc and nerve root pain may cause pain in the back, as well as in either or both legs. Greater impact at the L4-5 level above the pseudo-joint may lead to increased risk of disc degeneration and/or disc herniation. The result is swelling and degeneration that leads to pain. There is no joint fluid to lubricate and absorb shock. Unlike regular joints, this joint does not have cartilage to cushion the impact of the bones touching each other. The “pseudo-joint.” When the L5 transverse process (or the backbone) touches the sacrum, it creates a “pseudo-joint” if not fully fused.The joint can become swollen, inflamed and arthritic. An imbalance in the structure of the lumbar vertebrae where it connects to the sacrum and iliac bone can create greater stress on the sacroiliac joint. ![]() Sacroiliac joint and adjacent ligaments.Over time, these joints can become swollen, inflamed and arthritic. Because the L5 is attached to the sacrum and that segment is not mobile, there is more stress on the segments above, especially L4-5. Spine joints, also known as facet joints.Some report that their pain alternates depending on activity. Some patients may have a combination of causes. There are several causes of pain as a result of Bertolotti’s Syndrome. Reasons for Pain from Bertolotti’s Syndrome In older patients, arthritic changes or nerve irritation may trigger lower back pain from their atypical anatomy. This is why the condition is often misdiagnosed.įor reasons that are not entirely clear, many patients with Bertolotti’s Syndrome begin to experience pain while in their 20s and 30s. The pain may be mistaken for sacroiliac joint pain or lumbar disc or lumbar facet joint pain. Patients with Bertolotti’s Syndrome sometimes report lower back pain that radiates from the sides of the waistline. In some patients, however, the change in anatomy can cause wear and tear in the structures of the lower back. Many people are not aware that they have an anatomic variation because they do not have low back pain. These include additional vertebrae (six lumbar vertebrae as compared to five), or a sacrum that looks more like a lumbar vertebra. Studies indicate that 10 to 25 percent of people have some type of variation in their backbone anatomy. Some call Bertolloti’s Syndrome “a partially sacralized L5.” It falls into a broader category known as “transitional anatomy.” Anatomic variation in the spine is fairly common. This puts more stress on lumbar vertebrae above it (元-4 and L4-5). When the L5 is connected to the sacrum, it is not mobile. The sacrum is the triangular bone in the lower back. Because this bony projection is larger than usual, it can “fuse” with the sacrum. The transverse process is the small bony projection on the right and left side of each vertebra. Mario Bertolotti determined that in some patients, the transverse process on the last lumbar vertebra (L5) is elongated. They are mobile and not attached to the sacrum. In other cases, however, the pain may be the result of a congenital skeletal abnormality. Sometimes, this pain is the result of disc degeneration, strain from overuse or poor lifting, or perhaps a fall or injury. The National Institutes of Health estimate that upward of 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |