Abstract

Accurate numbering is more important than just identification of LSTV. It’s very much essential for surgery because inaccurate numbering can led to wrong unintended level of surgery/interventional procedure. The accurate method available is conventional radiograph of whole spine. Conventional whole spine radiographs not only helps in counting of vertebral bodies from C2 downwards and also helps in differentiating the hypoplastic lower ribs from transverse process and in turn helps in identification of actual L1 and segmentation anomalies at thoraco-lumbar junction. 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. In subjects with normal segmentation majority i.e. 98.8% had Iliolumbar ligament at the level of L5, among Sacralized subjects majority i.e. 94.4% had Iliolumbar ligament at the level of L4 and in Lumbarized subjects majority i.e. 80% had Iliolumbar ligament at the level of S1.

Description