Are you born with Bertolotti Syndrome?
It is a congenital condition but is not usually symptomatic until one’s later twenties or early thirties. However, there are a few cases of Bertolotti’s that become symptomatic at a much earlier age. It is named for Mario Bertolotti, an Italian physician who first described it in 1917.
Is Bertolotti’s syndrome rare?
Bertolotti’s syndrome is a rare disease relating to an enlargement of transverse process of a vertebra leading to chronic back pain. This is a congenital disease and onset of the pain is usually delayed until the 30s. It can also have effects on the sacroiliac joint leading to misdiagnosis of back pain.
How do you fix Bertolotti Syndrome?
Minimally invasive spine surgery can reshape the enlarged transverse process and remove this transitional fake joint. Our patients have felt significant relief once this has been removed. Other treatment options have been reported, including fusing that region with a spinal fusion.
Can Bertolotti syndrome cause abdominal pain?
A 10-year-old boy presented with intermittent abdominal pain, evolving over the three previous months. Physical examination was normal apart from pain under pressure on the left side of his back, which radiated to his left flank.
Why does Sacralization happen?
The cause of sacralization isn’t yet known. It occurs during embryonic development, when the vertebrae begin to ossify, in about the eighth week. There may be a genetic predisposition involved. Your answers will help us improve our experience.
Does Bertolotti syndrome cause leg pain?
Bertolotti’s syndrome is a common but often misdiagnosed congenital anomaly that causes pain in the low back and legs.
What causes Bertolotti Syndrome?
Causes of Bertolotti’s Syndrome A transitional vertebrae transverse process is typically enlarged and often looks like a fake joint which touches the pelvis. This fake joint between this enlarged transverse process and the sacrum, if inflamed, can cause low back pain.
Can Sacralisation be cured?
Each individual is different, and there’s no set treatment. The conservative treatment given for pain associated with sacralization is the same as for other lower back pain.
What is Pseudoarticulation of the spine?
If this bony protrusion is attached to the sacrum, it can create a rudimentary joint (pseudoarticulation) where there shouldn’t be one. The resulting motion in this section of the spine can sometimes be a cause of localized low back pain. This condition can usually be successfully treated without surgery.
