IJAR.2017.156
Type of Article: Original Research
Volume 5; Issue 2.1 (April 2017)
Page No.: 3718-3721
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.156
A STUDY OF SACRALISATION OF FIFTH LUMBAR VERTEBRA
Rajapur. Parashuram *1, Dakshayani. K.R 2, Manjunatha S.N 3, Vadiraja N 4.
*1 Associate professor, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
2 Professor and HOD, Department of Anatomy, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
3 Associate professor, Department of Community Medicine, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
4 Assistant professor & Statistician, Department of Community Medicine, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
Address for Correspondence: Dr. Rajapur. Parashuram, Associate professor, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India. E-Mail: drparashuram100@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Sacrum consists of five fused sacral vertebrae. These are fused to provide strength and stability to the pelvis and transmit the weight of the body to the pelvic girdle through the sacro-iliac joints. The vertebral column can bear a weight of nearly 355 kg without crushing and a tearing strain of nearly 152 kg. Its weakest part is in the neck, which normally carries least weight. Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) are congenital anomalies of the lumbosacral region, which includes sacralisation of fifth lumbar vertebra and lumbarisation of first sacral vertebra observed for the first time by Bertolotti in 1917. This condition occurs due to defect in the segmentation of the lumbosacral spine during development and the combined effect of mutation of homeobox (HOX 11) & paired-box (PAX1 & PAX9) gene expression causes several types of sacralisation. Low back pain is quite a common ailment affecting about 80% of the population in their life time. This abnormality can be diagnosed by plain radiography.
Materials and Methods: In the present study 100 adult human sacra were examined in the department of Anatomy, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka.
Observations and Results: In the present study of 100 adult human sacra 71 were male and 29 were female sacra. Out of 100 sacral bones 16 sacra showed sacralisation of fifth lumbar vertebrae and remaining 84 was normal vertebra. Out of 16 sacralised bones, 15 bones showed bilateral sacralisation and only 01 bone showed unilateral sacralisation.
Conclusion: Knowledge of sacralisation is not only enlightening for the orthopaedic surgeons, also vital for the Clinical Anatomists, Radiologists, Forensic experts, Morphologists, Architectures and Anthropologists. Hence we are presenting such variation with emphasize on its clinical relevance. Incorrect numbering during the planning of spinal surgery may have serious consequences.
Key words: Sacralisation, Lumbar vertebra, Sacrum, Genes, Low back pain.
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