Supernumerary Vertebrae Research Articles

Transitional, fused and/or supernumerary vertebrae inthe lumbosacrocaudal region ofthe spine-Areality inmany domestic mammals.

The aim ofthis study was toidentify the presence oftransitional lumbosacral and sacrocaudal vertebrae indomestic mammals, torealise acomparative analysis ofthe localisation and conformation ofthis abnormal condition. The research included the following species: cattle-29 specimens, sheep-32 specimens, horse- 31specimens, pig-26 specimens, rabbit-33 specimens, dog-89 specimens and cat-57 specimens. The spine oftheanimals was analysed post-mortem orradiologically. The investigations revealed the presence oftransitional vertebrae asfollows: incattle-3 cases (8.7%), all being about the lumbarisation ofthe first sacral vertebra (S1); insheep-3cases(9.37%), two lumbarisation cases ofS1 and one caudalisation ofS4 (the last sacral vertebra);inhorses- 4 cases (12.9%), all about the sacralisation ofCd1 (first caudal vertebra); inpigs-3 cases (11.53%), two lumbarisation cases ofS1 and one sacralisation ofCd1; inrabbits-3 cases (9.09%), alumbar supernumerary vertebra (L8) and two cases ofcaudalisation ofS4; indogs-4 cases (4.49%), alumbar supernumerary vertebra (L8) and 3 cases ofsacralisation ofthe last lumbar vertebra (L7 orL8); incats-3 cases (5.26%), two sacralisation cases ofthe last lumbar vertebra and one case ofcaudalisation ofthe last sacral vertebra (S3). Astrong lumbarisation process was observed inruminants (especially incattle), then inpigs, the sacralisation being prevalent incarnivores. The sacrocaudal transitional vertebra was predominant inhorses. Noevident influence ofthe sex and age ofthe animals was observed.

A case study of multiple individuals with a supernumerary vertebra and sacralization in the prehistoric Rio Muerto Tiwanaku cemetery (AD 700-900), Moquegua, Peru

This paper presents a rare cluster of 16 Tiwanaku colonists (AD 700-1000) buried in the Rio Muerto cemeteries M70B and M43A (Moquegua Valley, Peru) who have a supernumerary sixth lumbar (L6) vertebra in their complete spine. While some nonhuman primates have an extra lumbar vertebra for quadrupedal flexibility, an additional lumbar vertebra in humans is considered a rare trait and associated with a Hox gene mutation. More than half of adolescent and older individuals in the study population were observed to have this trait (M70B: 14 of 26; M43A: 2 of 3). Almost all these people also have full or partial L6 sacralization. At least three other Tiwanaku colonists within the Moquegua Valley have been noted with this trait, as well as one case from the Tiwanaku heartland site of Lukurmata, Bolivia. Finding this many people with this rare condition concentrated in one archaeological site suggests a shared connection, such as a congenital condition. We discuss the distribution of this trait at the Rio Muerto site, and how this may represent a subgroup of a migrant community within the larger Tiwanaku population. We also consider mortuary evidence and previously published strontium indications of migration, potential shared descent, community connections, and studies of intermarriage within this region.

Challenges in the management of a rare case of caudal duplication syndrome in a poor resource setting

Abstract Caudal duplication syndrome is a series of malformations affecting the development of the caudal area of the embryo involving a combination of malformations of the digestive tract, the genitourinary tract, the spinal column, the limbs or the neural tube. The authors report a case characterized by a supernumerary lower limb comprised of a thigh, leg, two feet joined by their medial edge and two scrota each containing one testicle and two phalluses, one of which lacks a urethral. The second phallus had an apical urethral meatus allowing for normal urination, a hemi-thoracic vertebrae, a megaureter and a single kidney and supernumerary vertebrae. A surgical excision of the supernumerary limb and the abormal phallus was performed, followed by a fusion of the two scrota. The surgical outcomes were uneventful.

Alterations in rat fetal morphology following abuse patterns of toluene exposure

Toluene is a commonly abused organic solvent. Inhalant abusers are increasingly women in their prime childbearing years. Children born to mothers who abused solvents during pregnancy may exhibit characteristics of a “fetal solvent syndrome” which may include dysmorphic features. This study examined the teratological effects of an abuse pattern of binge toluene exposure during gestation on skeletal and soft tissue abnormalities, body weight, and body size in fetal rats. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed for 30 min, twice daily, from gestational day (GD) 8 through GD20 to either air (0 ppm), 8000 ppm, 12,000 ppm, or 16,000 ppm toluene. Two-thirds of each litter was prepared for skeletal examination using Alizarin Red S staining while the remaining third of each litter was fixed in Bouin's solution for Wilson's soft tissue evaluation. Exposure to toluene at all levels significantly reduced growth, including decreases in placental weight, fetal weight, and crown-rump length. In addition, numerous gross morphological anomalies were observed such as short or missing digits and missing limbs. Skeletal examination revealed that ossification of the extremities was significantly reduced as a result of toluene exposure at all levels. Specific skeletal defects included misshapen scapula, missing and supernumerary vertebrae and ribs, and fused digits. Soft tissue anomalies were also observed at all toluene levels and there was a dose-dependent increase in the number of anomalies which included cryptorchidism, displaced abdominal organs, gastromegaly, distended/hypoplastic bladder, and delayed cardiac development, among others. These results indicate that animals exposed prenatally to levels and patterns of toluene typical of inhalant abuse are at increased risk for skeletal and soft tissue abnormalities.

Polythelia and supernumerary cervical and thoracic vertebrae

We present a case of an 11-year-old boy with an elongated neck and chest. Both the cervical and thoracic spine carried 1 supernumerary vertebrae. This was accompanied by symmetric polythelia.

Intake of high levels of vitamin A and polyunsaturated fatty acids during different developmental periods modifies the expression of morphogenesis genes in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The effect of the feeding period on larval development was investigated in European sea bass larvae by considering the expression level of some genes involved in morphogenesis. Larvae were fed a control diet except during three different periods (period A: from 8 to 13 d post-hatching (dph); period B: from 13 to 18 dph; period C: from 18 to 23 dph) with two compound diets containing high levels of vitamin A or PUFA. European sea bass morphogenesis was affected by these two dietary nutrients during the early stages of development. The genes involved in morphogenesis could be modulated between 8 and 13 dph, and our results indicated that retinoids and fatty acids influenced two different molecular pathways that in turn implicated two different gene cascades, resulting in two different kinds of malformation. Hypervitaminosis A delayed development, reducing the number of vertebral segments and disturbing bone formation in the cephalic region. These malformations were correlated to an upregulation of retinoic acid receptor gamma, retinoid X receptor (RXR) alpha and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)4. An excess of PUFA accelerated the osteoblast differentiation process through the upregulation of RXRalpha and BMP4, leading to a supernumerary vertebra. These results suggest that the composition of diets devoted to marine fish larvae has a particularly determining effect before 13 dph on the subsequent development of larvae and juvenile fish.

Disabling Spondyloarthrosis Risk Factors in Valley of Mexico Workers

Background The objective of this study was to describe the most prevalent physically disabling conditions for insured workers belonging to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in the Valley of Mexico and to identify risk factors for disabling spondyloarthrosis. Methods Retrospective cases and prevalent controls from IMSS clinics in the Mexico City metropolitan area were studied. Eighty cases were IMSS workers reporting disability due to spondyloarthrosis; 80 controls were active workers at the same workplace and shared the economic activity of the cases. The 1995 IMSS Disability Report was reviewed. From this report congenital conditions of the musculoskeletal system, obesity, history of trauma, and sociodemographic patient characteristics were assessed. Results The most important risk factors were a history of spina bifida (odds ratio [OR] = 29.3, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 5.3–161; p = 0.0009), supernumerary vertebrae (OR = 21.3, 95% CI = 5.3–95; p = 0.0001), history of low back (lumbar) trauma (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.9–8.3; p = 0.0004), flatfoot (OR = 11.7, 95% CI = 1.9–69, p = 0.02), and obesity (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.06–4.03; p = 0.04). Conclusions A history of congenital deformity of the musculoskeletal system, spinal column trauma, and obesity were risk factors most associated with work disability due to spondyloarthrosis.

Symptomless Congenital Duplication of the Lumbosacral Spine

Although the literature on vertebral anomalies is replete with reports of numerical variations, a careful review of the material has failed to reveal another case similar to the one reported here. It is generally conceded that the lumbosacral region is the most frequent site of vertebral anomalies. Also, spina bifida and supernumerary vertebrae are common, but the latter always occur in the line of the vertebral column (not laterally, as in this case), and the former, properly defined, denotes a failure of the bone to unite over the neural arch. Therefore, the case which motivates this report does not belong in either of those two categories, nor, insofar as we are able to determine, to any other special group. On Oct. 3, 1932, O. M. C., negro female child, aged nine years, was brought to the Children's Hospital, Denver, by her father because of an acute gastro-intestinal disturbance which proved to be typhoid fever. The patient was the youngest of six children, all the rest of whom (one boy and four girls...