2023 Volume 14 Issue 7 Pages 1067-1072
Introduction: We report two cases of Bertolotti's syndrome (Catellvi classification Type IIa) treated using transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and pseudarthrosis surgery.
Case 1: A 29-year-old woman presented with lower back and leg pains. Her L5 transverse process enlarged and formed a pseudarthrosis with the sacrum. She had decompression for 7 years before being diagnosed with extraforaminal stenosis associated with Bertolotti's syndrome and underwent decompression. She experienced symptomatic relief; however, her lower back and leg pain returned at the age of 25. Imaging revealed no restenosis in the extraforaminal region.
Case 2: A 20-year-old man presented with lower back and leg pains. The transverse process formed a pseudarthrosis with the sacrum. Restenosis was not observed in the extraforaminal region. Both cases were caused by the pseudo-articular area associated with Bertolotti's syndrome. Surgery was performed, and the symptoms subsided.
Conclusion: Bertolotti's syndrome can cause lower back pain and occasionally nerve root symptoms. The patient's symptoms subsided after undergoing transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
