A Rare Case of Bertolotti's Syndrome in a Young Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Jasvindar Kumar,Zahoor Ahmed,Sundas Ali,Manjeet Singh,Nasrullah Zadran

doi:10.7759/cureus.10957

Abstract

Bertolotti's syndrome is a congenital condition characterized by the sacralization of the lower lumbar vertebrae or the lumbarization of the sacral vertebrae. The cause of pain in Bertolotti’s syndrome is multifactorial. This lumbosacral transitional vertebra has a prevalence of 4% to 30%. Rarely, it is considered in the differential diagnosis of low back pain in young people. Therefore, every aspect of Bertolotti’s syndrome needs to be meticulously addressed, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic back pain. Herein, we present a case of Bertolotti’s syndrome presented with chronic lower back pain, confirmed on X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He was managed with analgesics and steroids injection with regular follow-up.

Highlights

Bertolotti's syndrome (BS), or lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is the partial or complete fusion of the unilateral or bilateral most caudal lumbar vertebrae to the sacrum or ilium
Bertolotti's syndrome is a congenital condition characterized by the sacralization of the lower lumbar vertebrae or the lumbarization of the sacral vertebrae
The cause of pain in Bertolotti’s syndrome is multifactorial. This lumbosacral transitional vertebra has a prevalence of 4% to 30%. It is considered in the differential diagnosis of low back pain in young people

Summary

Introduction

Bertolotti's syndrome (BS), or lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is the partial or complete fusion of the unilateral or bilateral most caudal lumbar vertebrae to the sacrum or ilium It is an anomalous enlargement of the transverse process of the fifth lumbar vertebrae that either fuses or articulates with the sacrum or ilium bone and causes L4-L5 disc disease. This relationship was first studied by Bertolotti in 1917, who relates this to low back pain. The backache started one year back when the patient exercised excessively and lifted some heavyweights It was considered as muscle sprain, and his physician prescribed analgesics and advised him to take rest. On follow-up three weeks later, he was doing well with no active complaint

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