Prevalence and severity of Bertolotti’s syndrome in Malaysia: A common under diagnosis
https://doi.org/10.51866/oa.64
- Author:
Mohamad Faiz Noorman
1
;
Ahmad Anuar Sofian
2
;
Mohd Khairuddin Kandar
3
;
Ashraf Hakim Ab Halim
4
;
Mohd Hezery Harun
5
,
6
;
Fadzrul Abbas Mohamed Ramlee,
6
,
7
;
Fahrudin Che Hamzah
4
;
Ezamin Abdul Rahim
8
Author Information
1. MD (UKM), Master in Orthopaedic Surgery (UPM) Department of Orthopaedic, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia.
2. MBBS (CUCMS), Master in Orthopaedic Surgery (UPM) Department of Orthopaedic, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, Malaysia.
3. MD (UKM), Master in Orthopaedic Surgery (UKM) Avisena Specialist Hospital, Jalan Ikhtisas, Seksyen 14, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
4. MD (UKM), Master in Orthopaedic Surgery (UKM) Department of Orthopaedic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
5. MD (USM), Doctor of Orthopaedic &
6. Traumatology (UKM) Department of Orthopaedic, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
7. MBBS (Ireland), Doctor of Orthopaedic &
8. MD (UKM), MMed (Radiology)(UKM) Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Bertolotti’s syndrome;
Low back pain;
Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae;
Underdiagnosis
- MeSH:
Low Back Pain
- From:Malaysian Family Physician
2022;17(3):121-127
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Bertolotti’s syndrome (BS) is defined as the presence of low back pain (LBP), radiculopathy or both with a dysplastic transverse process (TP) of the fifth lumbar vertebra that is articulated or fused with the sacral base or iliac crest. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of BS to promote awareness of this disease.
Methods: A retrospective review of anteroposterior lumbosacral plain radiographs was conducted between 1 January and 31 December 2017. Patients were recruited via systematic randomised sampling and were then interviewed and examined. The severity of BS was measured objectively using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ). Data were analysed using IBM SPSS for Windows version 22.
Results: The prevalence of BS was 9.6% (16/166). Age significantly affected the severity of BS. The older and younger groups had a mean ODQ score of 42.86% and 24.08%, respectively (P=0.006). There was no significant relationship found between the prevalence of BS and age (P=0.126). Only one patient was diagnosed with BS during medical consultation. The mean NPRS score was 5.5. The majority of the BS cases were of moderate severity (43.8%), followed
by those of minimal severity (31.2%) and severe disability (25%).
Conclusion: Early diagnosis of BS and orthopaedic referral are crucial to halt its progression. BS should be considered in patients presenting with LBP during assessments of lumbosacral radiographs.
- Full text:2025082014290455099v17n3-OA-Prevalence-and-severity-of-Bertolottis.pdf
