An Unusual Variation in the Anatomy of Cadaveric Fifth Lumbar Vertebra with Mushroom Shaped Bony Mass - A Case Report of Partial Sacralisation and Literature Review

Abstract

Sacralisation is one of the common congenital anomalies of the human spine. When the body of the fifth lumbar vertebra is partially or completely fused with the sacrum, or when overgrowth of one or both of its transverse processes takes place to such an extent as to cause them to articulate with the iliac bones, this condition is called sacralisation. This anomaly is well known to anatomists but now it is clinically appreciated by orthopedicians too, as some clinical symptoms may be related to this anatomical variation. The knowledge of sacralisation can be useful in basic osteology and may be clinically relevant to the preliminary consideration in patients as a cause of obscure lumbosacral and sciatic pain. During medicolegal investigations, it may be detected which may be of vital importance in identification, especially when antemortem records are available. Here we report a case of partial sacralisation of lumbar vertebra found incidentally during routine undergraduate anatomy teaching.