The Correlation between Lumbosacral Transitional Anatomy and Pars Defect

• Published in: Indian Spine Journal Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 209 - 214
• Main Authors: Gonzales-Portillo, Gabriel S., Avila, Mauricio J., Rizvi, Omar, Dumont, Travis M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2022; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: CT imaging; Emergency medical services; lumbosacral transitional anatomy; lumbosacral transitional vertebrae; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; pars defect; spine surgery; spine trauma
• ISSN: 2589-5079; 2589-5087
• DOI: 10.4103/isj.isj_59_21

Background: Transitional anatomy and pars defects are two common incidental findings seen on imaging of the lumbosacral spine. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between these two lumbar spine phenomena. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of spinal imaging was conducted of patients presenting with thoracolumbar fractures at our Level I Trauma Center between 2017 and 2018. Computed tomography scans from 260 patients were obtained and assessed for the presence of lumbosacral transitional anatomy and pars defect. Results: From the 260 patients reviewed, 16 patients had transitional anatomy (6%) and 20 patients had lumbar non-traumatic pars defect (8%). Only one patient presented with both transitional anatomy and pars defect. Overall, there was no difference in incidence of pars defect whether transitional lumbosacral anatomy was present (5%) or not (6.25%), P = 1.00, Fisher’s exact test. Conclusion: The findings suggest that patients with transitional anatomy do not have an increased association with lumbar pars defects.