Abstract

According to the cadaveric studies, it’s shown that in subjects with sacralization, the height of the sacrum measured excluding the transition vertebrae is smaller than normal. This suggests that during rudimentary developmental stage based on the weight bearing capacity of normal sacrum from S1-S5, either addition or diminution of segments to form LSTV. Totally 224 Indian subjects who underwent lumbar spine MRI with whole spine screening in Radiology department were studied. Most of these subjects were referred for evaluation of backache and radiculopathy. After reviewing 21 patients with prior spine surgery, severe alterations in spine curvature, extremely tortuous aorta and spine deformities were excluded. The 8 subjects with age less than 20 years were also excluded, so final study group includes 195 subjects. In the normal segmentation group majority i.e. 29.1% had SMA at the level of Upper L1 and Mid L1. In Sacralized subjects majority i.e. 50% had SMA at the level of T12–L1.In Lumbarized subjects there was equal distribution at the levels of T12-L1, L1 upper, L1 lower, L1-L2 and Mid L2.

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