Sacralized Vertebra
A sacralized vertebra is a type of natural spinal fusion which typically occurs at L5. In some cases, a
transitional vertebra
can exist, (named L6) and this can also be sacralized in rare instances. In extreme cases, 2 vertebrae may be sacralized, usually L5 and L4. While sacralization can be diagnosed via
x-ray
or
MRI
scans as a spinal abnormality, there is no indication that it is responsible for enacting pain or neurological symptoms in the vast majority of affected patients.
Sacralized Vertebra Back Pain
Sacralized L5 can possibly cause pain through several possible modalities:Improper bone alignment in the fusion can result in
central spinal stenosis
or
foraminal stenosis.
In most cases, these will not be symptomatic, but in serious examples, pain and nerve effects may result.
Facet joint syndrome
may result in the area, although these structural changes are normal in most patients and are not likely to be the source of pain, since the fused
vertebrae
do not move against one another. A partial
sacralization
may indicate some degree of movement, with bone on bone contact being possible. This is one of the most logical reasons for low back pain to exist and is generally treated surgically with reinforcing hardware to form a tight
spinal fusion.
Sacralized Spinal Bones Information
Many
back doctors
and
chiropractors
used to blame this anatomical irregularity for causing
lower back pain
and
sciatica
in almost every patient. Times have changed and now doctors realize that this condition is almost always benign and non-problematic. In a few cases, there are verifiable reasons why the sacralized spinal bones are indeed painful and these can usually be fixed using
minimally invasive back surgery
techniques. In some circumstances, full spinal fusions will have to be performed to further fuse the region and stabilize the spine. Luckily, this is rarely a needed procedure, since it is horrific to endure and sometimes makes the painful complaint far worse and impossibly chronic.
Sacralized Vertebra Summary
In most of the cases I see where patients have been told that their pain is a direct result of a sacralization scenario, there is absolutely no evidence of a pathological process to support the theory. The central and foraminal spaces are preserved and the alignment of the bones seems normal, despite the fusion. These cases also rarely respond well to treatment, which is why so many patients
are looking for advice to begin with. If your symptoms have been blamed on a sacralization condition at the lumbosacral juncture, it is definitely worth investigating the matter further. I always recommend seeking a few opinions from several different types of doctors, including an orthopedist and a neurologist. Additionally, I recommend you ask each doctor how pain is being produced, if indeed they feel the condition is a cause or contributor. The more you know and better you understand the diagnosis, the less likely you will be to suffer ineffective and unneeded treatment for a spinal abnormality which might just be completely innocent of all blame.
Sacralized Vertebra to Back Pain
12/20/10 Revised 2/19/12
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