A STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF SACRALIZATION OF L5 VERTEBRA

Abstract

Sacrum is centrally located unpaired bone of pelvis which is composed of 5 sacral vertebrae. Superiorly it articulates with 5th lumbar vertebra to form lumbosacral joint and laterally it articulates with hip bone to form sacroiliac joint. When 5th lumbar vertebra fuses with 1st sacral vertebra then it is called as sacralization and when 1st sacral vertebra gets separated from sacrum then it is called as lumbarization. 79sacra from the department of Anatomy of MGM medical college and D. Y. Patil medical college, Navi Mumbai were studied to see sacralization. Out of 79 sacra in 14sacra(17.7 %) sacralization was observed.Out of 14 sacra, 4 sacra showed bilateral and complete sacralization, 5 sacra showed unilateral and partial sacralization and 5 sacra showedincomplete fusion between L5 and S1 vertebra. Change in normal structure of lumbar vertebra and sacrum may lead to alteration in kinematics of lumbosacral region which may lead to compression of nerve and low back pain. Knowledge regarding incidence of sacralization will be useful for radiologist and orthopaedic surgeon while dealing with low back pain.