1. Intraoperative navigation-guided resection of anomalous transverse processes in patients with Bertolotti's syndrome
- Author
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Doniel Drazin, J. Patrick Johnson, Terrence T. Kim, Carlito Lagman, Marshall Grode, and Harish Babu
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,sacrum ,Spine: Technical Note ,Lumbar vertebrae ,Asymptomatic ,transverse process ,Resection ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Ala of sacrum ,medicine ,Bertolotti's syndrome ,pseudoarticulation ,business.industry ,Sacrum ,Symptomatic relief ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Surgery ,Neurology (clinical) ,Radiology ,medicine.symptom ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Lumbosacral joint - Abstract
Background: Bertolotti's syndrome is characterized by enlargement of the transverse process at the most caudal lumbar vertebra with a pseudoarticulation between the transverse process and sacral ala. Here, we describe the use of intraoperative three-dimensional image-guided navigation in the resection of anomalous transverse processes in two patients with Bertolotti's syndrome. Case Descriptions: Two patients diagnosed with Bertolotti's syndrome who had undergone the above-mentioned procedure were identified. The patients were 17- and 38-years-old, and presented with severe, chronic low back pain that was resistant to conservative treatment. Imaging revealed lumbosacral transitional vertebrae at the level of L5-S1, which was consistent with Bertolotti's syndrome. Injections of the pseudoarticulations resulted in only temporary symptomatic relief. Thus, the patients subsequently underwent O-arm neuronavigational resection of the bony defects. Both patients experienced immediate pain resolution (documented on the postoperative notes) and remained asymptomatic 1 year later. Conclusion: Intraoperative three-dimensional imaging and navigation guidance facilitated the resection of anomalous transverse processes in two patients with Bertolotti's syndrome. Excellent outcomes were achieved in both patients.
- Published
- 2017