LUMBOSACRAL TRANSITIONAL VERTEBRAE: INCIDENCE IN PATIENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To study the association of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae detected by plain radiography in patients with low back pain. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective Descriptive Study. SETTING: PAC Hospital Kamra. DURATION OF STUDY: Six months (Jan 2011 to June 2011). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Radiographs of 100 patients presenting with low backache and fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria were examined. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 16 and frequency of patients with low backache with lumbosacral transitional vertebra(LSTV) was calculated. RESULTS: In 100 patients, 42 were males and 58 were females. The incidence of LSTV was 27% with a male preponderance. CONCLUSIONS: There is convincing evidence of a relationship between lumbosacral transitional vertebrae and low backache. Key words: Anteroposterior; lumbosacral transitional vertebrae(LSTV).