Radiological Investigation of the Lumbosacral Region Anomalies in Patients with Abdominopelvic Complaints

Abstract

Objective: Aim of this study was to determine frequency of vertebral congenital anomalies of the lumbosacral region in the cases with abdominopelvic region complaints. Material and Methods: Direct urinary system graphies of patients between the ages 17-74 obtained from urology and physical therapy department archives were evaluated retrospectively. Mean age of the cases was 44.31 + 1.35. Of 755 evaluated graphies, 354 belonged to males and 401 to females. Lumbarization, sacralisation and spina bifida occulta were investigated on radiographies. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The number of cases with detected anomalies in lumbosacral region were 143 (18.9%). Distribution of the observed anomalies were as follows: 77 (10.2%) cases had lumbalization, 42 (5.6%) had sacralisation and 24 (3.2%) spina bifida occulta. While the most common observed anomaly with lumbalization cases were lumbar disc hernia, osteoporosis and urinary tract infection; cases with spina bifida occulta had lumbar disc hernia in two of cases, benign prostatic hyperplasia in two of cases, osteoporosis in one of case, urolithiasis in one of case. In 15 cases clinically diagnosed as sacralization, the most common accompanying disorder was lumbar disc hernia. Lumbosacral region anomalies detected in 64 of females and in 79 of males. Presented anomalies in female cases were 43 (10.7%) lumbalization, 11 (2.7%) sacralisation and 10 (2.5%) spina bifida occulta. Anomalies observed in 79 male cases were 34 (9.6%) lumbalization, 31 (8.8%) sacralisation and 14 (4%) spina bifida occulta. In comparison of the frequency of anomalies between to females and males, the differences were statistical significant (p= 0.002). Conclusion: We suppose that the information on the frequency of lumbosacral congenital surgical operations on this region as well as for investigating the etiology of low back pain and many other disorders involving lumbosacral area.