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Review
. 2021 Oct 24;13(10):e19013.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.19013. eCollection 2021 Oct.

A Comprehensive Review of Congenital Lumbar Synostosis and Associated Findings

Albert M Volk  1 , Mansour Mathkour  2 , Joe Iwanaga  3 , Aaron S Dumont  3 , R Shane Tubbs  3   4
Affiliations
Review

A Comprehensive Review of Congenital Lumbar Synostosis and Associated Findings

Albert M Volk et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Congenital vertebral synostosis (CVS) is a rare developmental condition due to failure of vertebral segmentation. Vertebrae and their intervertebral discs differentiate and resegment at the time of organogenesis during fetal life. Failure of this embryological process can result in the limitation of mobility of the involved segment. This inappropriate segmentation thus results in vertebral fusion or a block vertebra with subsequent vertebral synostosis. Long-term, such segmental fusion can increase osteoarthritis at levels below and above the fused segment due to excessive wear on these joints. Presentations can include congenital kyphosis and scoliosis. Patients may present with back and radicular pain, and possible myelopathy CVS usually occurs, in order of frequency, in the cervical, lumbar, and thoracic vertebral levels. This paper reviews congenital lumbar synostosis with associated findings and its clinical implications and embryological significance. A case illustration is also included.

Keywords: congenital vertebral synostosis; klippel-feil syndrome; lumbar synostosis; spine; vertebral segmentation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Photographs of the CVS presented herein, posterior, anterior, left lateral, and right lateral views. In the second panel, note the variant lateral articulation between the sacrum and L5 vertebra (*).
Source: Images of skeletons preserved at the Tulane University School of Medicine
Figure 2
Figure 2. Zoomed in view of the left lateral view noting the degree of intervertebral foramina stenosis at L3/L4 and the anterior fusion of the bodies of these vertebrae (arrow)
Source: Images of skeletons preserved at the Tulane University School of Medicine.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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