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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Spondylolisthesis | Research

Lumbosacral transitional vertebra in spondylolisthesis: frequency, demographic findings, and clinical characteristics

Authors: Mehdi Mahmoodkhani, Arvin Naeimi, Amirhossein Zohrevand, Arian Rabbanifard, Majid Rezvani

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

The association of LSTV with low back pain has been debated in the literature for nearly a century, but the relationship between LSTV and spondylolisthesis is still under discussion. There is currently no valid information about LSTV’s prevalence in Iran. This study investigated the relationship between the presence of LSTV and lumbosacral spondylolisthesis regarding frequency, gender and age variation, grade and level of spondylolisthesis, and clinical signs and symptoms.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included spondylolisthesis patients admitted for surgery between March 2021 to December 2022. All patients underwent CT imaging. After evaluating medical records, the baseline data were collected. Patients were categorized into No LSTV, Sacralization, and Lumbarization groups. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the studied groups were compared using an independent T-test and Chi-Square. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the age and sex variations between groups.

Results

219 patients with a mean age of 57.07 ± 11.04 were included. A significant relationship was observed between the presence of sacralization and gender diversity with female predominance (P = 0.01). The level of spondylolisthesis and the presence of motor deficits (paresis) significantly differed among study groups (P < 0.05). Sacralization group exhibited a greater prevalence of higher grades of listhesis compared to the other groups.

Conclusions

LSTV is frequently seen in spondylolisthesis patients. Sacralization is the common type of LSTV in spondylolisthesis patients, possibly leading to an increased risk for higher grades of vertebral slip and higher rates of motor deficit signs and symptoms. The presence of sacralization results in a significant increase in the incidence of higher levels of spondylolisthesis, especially the L4-L5*(sacralized L5) level. There is no relationship between age and the presence of LSTV in spondylolisthesis.
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Metadata
Title
Lumbosacral transitional vertebra in spondylolisthesis: frequency, demographic findings, and clinical characteristics
Authors
Mehdi Mahmoodkhani
Arvin Naeimi
Amirhossein Zohrevand
Arian Rabbanifard
Majid Rezvani
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07318-z

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