Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40357873›Full record

ArticleActa orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica2025

Presence of sacralized lumbar vertebra predisposes to adjacent level lumbar disc degeneration: A cross-sectional study.

Serkan Bayram, Yekta Furkan Altin, Abdullah Kahraman, Taha Furkan Yağci, Murat Korkmaz, Turgut Akgül

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. 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

6 authors.

Serkan BayramDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Yekta Furkan AltinDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Abdullah KahramanDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Taha Furkan YağciDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Murat KorkmazDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Turgut AkgülDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV), classified by Castellvi's system, and lumbar disc degeneration, graded using Pfirrmann's classification, based on radiological assessment. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 2516 patients (1548 females and 968 males) with a mean age of 51.83 ± 15.6 years with chronic low back pain who underwent lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans at a single center between January 2018 and January 2021. Pfirrmann grading was used to assess L4-L5 intervertebral disc degeneration, and Castellvi classification determined the anatomical type of LSTV. Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the association between LSTV presence and disc degeneration. Additionally, a proportional-odds ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between Pfirrmann grade and patient-specific factors (age, gender, and LSTV presence). Results: According to Pfirrmann classification, 113 patients were grade I, 402 were grade II, 877 were grade III, 861 were grade IV, and 263 were grade V. A total of 771 patients (30.6%) did not have LSTV, while the remaining 1745 patients (69.4%) had LSTV. A statistically significant association was found between LSTV presence and Pfirrmann grade (P < .001, r=.200). Patients with LSTV had 0.75 times higher probability (95% CI: 0.58-0.90, P < .001) of exhibiting a higher Pfirrmann grade compared to those without LSTV. However, no significant correlation was observed between LSTV subtypes classified by Castellvi and Pfirrmann grade (P=.379). Additionally, age was significantly correlated with Pfirrmann classification, LSTV presence, and Castellvi classification (P < .001). Female patients had 1.34 times higher likelihood (95% CI: 1.19-1.49, P < .001) of exhibiting a higher Pfirrmann grade compared to male patients. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant association between LSTV and advanced disc degeneration, establishing LSTV as a potential risk factor for progressive spinal changes. It emphasizes the importance of early detection and targeted management, particularly for older adults and females who are more susceptible to severe degenerative changes. Level of Evidence: Level III, Prognostic Study.

Indexed as

Intervertebral Disc DegenerationLow Back PainLumbar VertebraeSacrumAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTomography, X-Ray Computed

Identifiers

PMID40357873
PMCPMC12070437

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.