ArticleInternational journal of spine surgery2015
A Review of Symptomatic Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae: Bertolotti's Syndrome.
Article in International journal of spine surgery, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 77 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
77 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 192 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association Between Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae and Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.) · 2026Pooled it
- Bertolotti Syndrome in the Pediatric Population: A Literature Review and Management Algorithm.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2025Pooled it
- [Bertolotti syndrome: an often overlooked cause of specific back pain].Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Pooled it
- Effect of sacralization on the success of lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection treatment: prospective clinical trial.Skeletal radiology · 2023Trial
- Robotic-assisted minimally invasive excision of Bertolotti syndrome: novel technique and feasibility.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- Sacral morphological variations in the Korean population using PMCT-based 3D reconstruction: a case series.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2026Article
- Discordance Between Anatomical Nerve Root Compression and Functional Radiculopathy in Patients with Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- A Narrative Review of Bertolotti's Syndrome: Etiology, Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment.Cureus · 2026Review
- Accuracy in spinal level determination, including transitional vertebrae: an ASReview supported systematic review.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Review
- A novel C-Arm-free navigation-guided endoscopy-assisted extraforaminal decompression for L5 radiculopathy with far-out syndrome: a surgical technical note.Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) · 2026Article
- Bertolotti joint-related cyst: illustrative case.Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons · 2026Article
- Two-level fusion for Bertolotti syndrome and concomitant adjacent segment disease: patient series.Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons · 2026Article
- Quantitative analysis of the correlation between extraforaminal structures of lumbar spondylolisthesis and L5 nerve injury.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2026Article
- Lumbar Superior Articular Process-Pedicle Impingement, a Previously Unrecognized Pathological Cause of Low Back Pain: A Case Report.NMC case report journal · 2026Article
- Retrospective review of outcomes in patients with Bertolotti's syndrome who underwent fluoroscopically-guided pseudojoint injections.Interventional pain medicine · 2025Article
- Intraoperative 3D Navigation-Guided Resection of Enlarged Transverse Process for Treating Bertolotti Syndrome Unresponsive to Noninvasive Treatments: Case Report.Clinical case reports · 2025Article
- Automated Detection of Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae on Plain Lumbar Radiographs Using a Deep Learning Model.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Lumbosacral transitional vertebra alters the mobility of the lumbar spine on flexion-extension radiographs.International orthopaedics · 2025Article
- Oral pharmacological management of Bertolotti syndrome presenting as chronic low back pain - A case report and review of literature.Journal of orthopaedics · 2025Article
- Transitional lumbosacral vertebrae in black Norwegian elkhound and Brittany dogs: Clinical findings and its association with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.Acta veterinaria Scandinavica · 2025Article
17 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) are increasingly recognized as a common anatomical variant associated with altered patterns of degenerative spine changes. This review will focus on the clinical significance of LSTV, disruptions in normal spine biomechanics, imaging techniques, diagnosis, and treatment.
methodsA Pubmed search using the specific key words "LSTV," "lumbosacral transitional vertebrae," and "Bertolotti's Syndrome" was performed. The resulting group of manuscripts from our search was evaluated.
resultsLSTV are associated with alterations in biomechanics and anatomy of spinal and paraspinal structures, which have important implications on surgical approaches and techniques. LSTV are often inaccurately detected and classified on standard AP radiographs and MRI. The use of whole-spine images as well as geometric relationships between the sacrum and lumbar vertebra increase accuracy. Uncertainty regarding the cause, clinical significance, and treatment of LSTV persists. Some authors suggest an association between LSTV types II and IV and low back pain. Pseudoarticulation between the transverse process and the sacrum creates a "false joint" susceptible to arthritic changes and osteophyte formation potentially leading to nerve root entrapment. The diagnosis of symptomatic LSTV is considered with appropriate patient history, imaging studies, and diagnostic injections. A positive radionuclide study along with a positive effect from a local injection helps distinguish the transitional vertebra as a significant pain source. Surgical resection is reserved for a subgroup of LSTV patients who fail conservative treatment and whose pain is definitively attributed to the anomalous pseudoarticulation.
conclusionsDue to the common finding of low back pain and the wide prevalence of LSTV in the general population, it is essential to differentiate between symptoms originating from an anomalous psuedoarticulation from other potential sources of low back pain. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up time would better demonstrate the effectiveness of surgical resection and help guide treatment.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.