Congenital fusion of three lumbar vertebral bodies.

Abstract

Congenital fusion of cervical vertebral bodies is fairly common, thoracic fusion occurs less frequently, while fusion of lumbar vertebral bodies is rare. The authors had previously seen cases in which two lumbar vertebral bodies were fused, but the case to be reported here is the first which they have encountered of congenital fusion of three lumbar vertebrae. Literature Evans (1), in an excellent paper, has adequately reviewed the embryology of the vertebral column. According to him, fusion occurs most frequently at the cervical level, and occasionally at the thoracic. At the time of presentation of his paper, he had not seen fusion of any of the lumbar vertebrae. Trial and Rescanieres (5) reported 3 cases of lumbar vertebral body fusion. In 1 the second and third lumbar bodies were fused; in another the twelfth thoracic and first lumbar bodies, and in the third the fourth and fifth lumbar bodies. The arches were normal. These authors believe that fusion is due to congenital absence of the vertebral disk...