Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36174065›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae alter the distribution of lumbar mobility-Preliminary results of a radiographic evaluation.

Luis Becker, Lukas Schönnagel, Tim Victor Mihalache, Henryk Haffer, Friederike Schömig, Hendrik Schmidt, Matthias Pumberger

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Radiologic Insights: Diagnosing Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae. Systematic Review of the Literature.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2026
    Pooled it
  3. The impact of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae on the distribution and healing of lumbar spondylolysis.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 · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Lumbar sacralization and LWorld neurosurgery: X · 2024
    Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Luis BeckerCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité -University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-5549-0479
Lukas SchönnagelCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité -University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Tim Victor MihalacheCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité -University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Henryk HafferCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité -University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Friederike SchömigCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité -University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Hendrik SchmidtBerlin Institute of Health, Julius Wolff Institute for Biomechanics and Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Charité -University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Matthias PumbergerCenter for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité -University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · DECharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLumbo-sacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) are one of the most common congenital variances of the spine. They are associated with an increased frequency of degeneration in the cranial adjacent segment. Hypermobility and concomitant increased loads are discussed as a possible reason for segmental degeneration. We therefore examined the lumbar and segmental motion distribution in patients with LSTV with flexion-extension radiographs.

methodsA retrospective study of 51 patients with osteochondrosis L5/S1 with flexion and extension radiographs was performed. Of these, 17 patients had LSTV and were matched 1:1 for age and sex with patients without LSTV out of the collective of the remaining 34 patients. The lumbar and segmental range of motion (RoM) by segmental lordosis angle and the segmental wedge angle were determined. Normal distribution of parameters was observed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov-test. Parametric data were compared by paired T-test. Non-parametric data were compared by Wilcoxon-rank-sum-test. Correlations were observed using Spearman's Rank correlation coefficient. A p-value <0.05 was stated as statistically significant.

resultsPatients with LSTV had mean age of 52.2±10.9, control group of 48.9±10.3. Both groups included 7 females and 10 males. Patients with LSTV presented with reduced RoM of the lumbar spine (LSTV 37.3°±19.2°, control 52.1°±20.5°, p = 0.065), however effects were statistically insignificant. LSTV significantly decreased segmental RoM in the transitional segment (LSTV 1.8°±2.7°, control 6.7°±6.0°, p = 0.003). Lumbar motion distribution differed significantly; while RoM was decreased in the transitional segment, (LSTV 5.7%, control 16.2%, p = 0.002), the distribution of lumbar motion to the cranial adjacent segment was increased (LSTV 30.7%, control 21.6%, p = 0.007).

conclusionPatients with LSTV show a reduced RoM in the transitional segment and a significantly increased motion distribution to the cranial adjacent segment in flexion-extension radiographs. The increased proportion of mobility in the cranial adjacent segment possibly explain the higher rates of degeneration within the segment.

Indexed as

LordosisLumbosacral RegionAdultAnimalsFemaleHumansLumbar VertebraeMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSkull

Identifiers

PMID36174065
PMCPMC9521836
OpenAlexW4297983684

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.