Aim of the study: There is a high prevalence of lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) in the population. This pathology has been reported to be related with increased adjacent level degenerative disease. It is a probability that some cases with this pathology can require posterior spinal instrumentation of these transitional and adjacent degenerated segments. Although knowledge of the pedicle morphology is crucial for the safe application of pedicle screws, there are so few reports investigating the morphological dimensions of the vertebrae in this congenital pathology. The aim of this study is to investigate the morphometric characteristics of lumbosacral vertebra.
Material and Methods: In this study, the lower lumbar pedicle anatomy including pedicle width, pedicle height, interpedicular distance, transverse and sagital pedicle angles, and pedicle length at the transitional and two adjacent vertebra levels were investigated with measurements utilizing Computerized Tomography (CT) scans in young or middle-aged , same gender subjects, in whom degenerative changes have not yet become relatively significant . The dimensional differences of the pedicles between the subjects with and without transitional vertebra have also been assessed. Results: Interpedicular distance was found to be wider and pedicle lengths shorter significantly on the LSTV vertebra level. Pedicle lengths were also found to be significantly shorter on the vertebra adjacent to LSTV. Other morphological measurements revealed no difference.
Conclusion: LSTV anomaly mandates more careful preoperative calculation of the pedicle dimensions using radiological examinations of the patients who are scheduled for posterior spinal instrumentation surgery.

Keyword: Lumbar vertebrae, Transitional, Spiral Computed Tomography, Anatomy

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